SHINee‘s Taemin is known to be the fun, lovable maknae of the group. Yet, he revealed that his members partially influenced his personality.
Taemin guested on Episode 20 of BTS Suga‘s online interview series Suchwita. Jimin, being a mutual friend, joined during the episode, too.
While they were both born in 1993, Taemin is the youngest of his group, and Suga is the second to oldest in his. So, Suga was curious about what it was like for Taemin as the maknae. He brought up BTS’s maknae, Jungkook, saying that as he watches him, he recognizes that he has absorbed all the other BTS members’ tendencies.
You know what’s funny, Jimin? We’re both 1993ers, but he’s the youngest, while I’m one of the oldest. But how is it? As I watch Jungkook, he would get influenced by the older members and absorb their habits like a sponge.
— Suga
Taemin recognized this concept, but Jimin didn’t seem familiar at first. So, Suga and Taemin explained.
Taemin: Wow, that’s exactly like what our members talked about.
Jimin: What… Absorb what?
Taemin: The youngest is like the combination of all the members’ tendencies.
Suga: Jungkook moved to Seoul for the first when he was 14 or 15. He started living with us before he fully formed his identity.
Jimin: That’s right.
Suga: Are you like that as well, Taemin?
Taemin has a reputation now for teasing everyone, including staff and especially manager Nam Euisoo. Yet, he revealed that he inherited this trait from Minho!
What’s really funny is… There are times when I joke around a bit too much to our staff or our manager… When the other members see this…Minho is actually the guy who jokes around like this, so Minho would get really solemn, and he’d say, ‘Taemin, I’m sorry. I see myself in you.’
— Taemin
Since the maknaes are so young when they join their groups, they naturally absorb traits from the older members’ personalities.
Suga: I guess all idol groups are similar.
Taemin: Yeah, we get influenced like this.
Watch the full episode below.
