Why Is Seventeen Called Seventeen

The first time Mingyu really clicked for me wasn’t on a billboard or a magazine cover, it was at a small fan meet where his grin was somehow both goofy and perfectly photogenic. He officially debuted with Seventeen on May 26, 2015, when the group released the mini-album '17 Carat' and began promoting the single 'Adore U'. From that launch, Mingyu was positioned in the Hip-Hop Unit as one of the group's rappers — but calling him just a rapper undersells what he brings. He’s also widely regarded as one of Seventeen’s visuals and often stands out as a center in performances because of his height and stage presence. Over the years I’ve watched him evolve: early promotions leaned heavily on his tall, model-like visuals and confident rapper image, but he’s also developed songwriting and production chops, contributing to lyrics and arranging parts on various tracks. On stage he’s the kind of performer who balances swagger with precision — you’ll see him lock into a rap part with that crisp cadence and then switch into a frame-perfect pose that photographers love. Behind the scenes he’s known for goofiness and that infectious laugh, the kind of detail you only find if you spend time watching behind-the-scenes clips and V Lives. If you’re just starting to explore Seventeen’s discography, I’d point you to '17 Carat' to hear their debut era energy and 'Adore U' to see how Mingyu’s early role played out: confident rap lines, visual-heavy choreo, and a vibe that helped the group stand out. Beyond that, pay attention to his credits on later albums — he’s not just a face; he’s a creative contributor. For fans who love tall visuals and solid rap presence with a pinch of playful personality, Mingyu is a standout, and catching a live performance really brings that duality to life.

I've been telling friends to watch 'Thirty But Seventeen' whenever the mood calls for a warm, slightly bittersweet rom-com, and the core reason is the leads. The drama stars Shin Hye-sun and Yang Se-jong. Shin Hye-sun plays the woman at the center of the story — she was a bright teenager who, due to a long coma, wakes up years later as a thirty-year-old with the emotional world of a seventeen-year-old. The show explores how she relearns everyday things, reconnects with life, and handles the gap between her mental age and physical age. Yang Se-jong is the other half of the pairing: he plays the man who becomes her anchor. He's kind, patient, and quietly carries emotional baggage of his own, so their chemistry is built on awkward, heartwarming, slow revelations rather than instant sparks. The series leans into their relationship as a gentle study of healing and growth, with supporting characters rounding out their community and adding both comic relief and obstacles. If you like character-driven plots where two people help each other grow, the performances by Shin Hye-sun and Yang Se-jong are the main draw here.

I binged 'Thirty But Seventeen' on a rainy weekend and ended up Googling whether it was adapted from a webtoon — because the premise feels so perfectly like one. To clear it up: 'Thirty But Seventeen' (also called 'Still 17') is an original South Korean TV series that aired in 2018, not a direct adaptation of a preexisting novel or webtoon. The story was created as a scripted drama for television, so the characters and plot as broadcast were written for the show rather than serialized elsewhere first. That said, it's easy to see where the confusion comes from. The show has those neat visual cues and emotional beats that webtoon fans recognize — the amnesia trope, sudden emotional reconciliations, and a soft-focus romantic vibe — so fans often imagine it as a webtoon or fancomic. After the series aired, people made fanart, fanfics, and unofficial webtoons inspired by the episodes, and sometimes networks publish novelizations or tie-ins later. If you're hunting for the original source material, though, the credits roll of the drama and official press releases list it as an original screenplay, so you won't find a pre-existing webtoon or novel that the series adapted. If you loved the tone, I ended up devouring fan comics and some translated novelizations people created—they capture the same sweetness. Also try searching for interviews with the creators and cast; they often talk about the writing process and will explicitly mention whether something started as a script or an adaptation. Happy watching, and don't be surprised if you start sketching fanart too — it happens to the best of us.

Seeing Mingyu in person makes his height obvious — he's one of the tallest members of Seventeen, usually listed at about 186 cm (around 6'1.5"–6'2"). I've stood near concert barriers and watched group lineups where he simply towers in a very natural, lanky way: broad shoulders, long limbs, and that model-esque presence that photographers love. In photos he often ends up framed as a pillar at the back or the clean vertical line in center formations, which is why stylists sometimes give him simpler, elongated silhouettes to emphasize that height. Compared to the rest of the group, most members cluster in the mid-to-high 170s, with a few edging into the low 180s. What that means in practice is Mingyu visibly sticks out in mixed shots — not in a distracting way, but as someone who balances out the group's dynamics. If you've seen stage blocking from 'Ideal Cut' or fancams of dance practices, you'll notice choreographers use his height for strong lines and to anchor formations. In contrast, smaller members create a nice contrast that makes costumes and stage lighting pop even more. I like to point this out when scrolling through behind-the-scenes clips: footwear and posture can change perceived height a lot, so solo photos might look slightly different from live stages. Fan comparisons and official profiles are helpful, but nothing beats a live show or high-quality group photo for seeing how Mingyu measures up — and honestly, his height just adds to his charisma on stage. If you're curious, compare group shots across albums and you'll see the same pattern; it's a subtle but fun detail to follow at concerts or in photo books.

I geek out over Mingyu's style shifts — it's like watching someone try on different lives and settle into the ones that fit their shoulders best. Early on, his look leaned youthful and coordinated: cheerleader/schoolboy vibes with neat blazers, striped knits, and those trainee-era bangs that made his face look soft and almost doll-like. Back then the group styling emphasized matching palettes, so he often read as the tall, clean-cut visual who could carry preppy and sporty equally well. Fast-forward a few years and his wardrobe got adventurous. He started playing with proportions — oversized outerwear, longline coats, and baggy trousers that read more streetwear than school uniform. At the same time he embraced suiting in a way that showed real growth: slimmer cuts, unexpected textures, and that confident mix of masculine tailoring with delicate accessories like chains and rings. I love how his off-duty airport fits lean comfy and deliberately styled, while stage and magazine looks go full editorial. His tall frame lets him pull off dramatic silhouettes, and changing hair colors/lengths amplify different eras of his style. Watching him now feels like following a personal style evolution from boy-next-door to an idol who knows how to wear everything — from relaxed hoodies to sharp tuxedos — with equal ease and a wink of swagger.

I still get a little misty thinking about the ending of 'Thirty But Seventeen'—the finale’s biggest twist isn’t a murder mystery reveal or a secret parentage bombshell, it’s a quiet, emotional flip that re-frames what the whole show has been building toward. Instead of some sudden external twist, the finale gives us an inward revelation: Seo-ri doesn’t simply snap back into who she was at 17 or fully revert to her 30-year-old self. The twist is that her healing is relational and cumulative—her memories, her youthful impulses, and the adult responsibilities all coexist. The real surprise is how Gong Woo-jin, who spent most of the series locked behind routines and emotional walls, becomes the catalyst for that integration. I remember watching the last episodes and feeling relieved because the resolution wasn’t contrived. There’s a time jump that shows them moving forward together—dealing with adult life, making messy but honest choices, and even starting a family. That epilogue flips expectations: instead of a single dramatic reveal, the show gives you the satisfying surprise that both leads grow and choose each other for real. It’s less about a plot mechanism and more about the emotional twist—that love and steady care can heal trauma and let two very different people build something lasting.

There's something fun about lining members up by birth year and watching group vibes click into place. For me, Mingyu sits squarely in the '97 generation of SEVENTEEN, which makes him younger than the '95 seniors like S.Coups, Jeonghan, and Joshua and a bit younger than the big ’96 chunk of members like Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, and Woozi. That middle-ground spot gives him a kind of bridge energy — he can joke around with the younger guys but also hold his own in more grown-up moments. I always notice it in behind-the-scenes clips: Mingyu will tease someone like Dino, but then he’s the one smoothing things over or stepping forward during interviews. Age in K-pop isn't just a number; it affects roles, responsibilities, and how fans interact with each member. Mingyu’s placement in the lineup helps explain some of his on-stage presence — he’s tall, visual, and often showcased in formations that need a confident center. Meanwhile, members from the older lines sometimes take leadership or mentoring roles, and the younger maknae line brings a playful fresh energy. Mingyu feels like that reliable middle sibling who can be both goofy and mature depending on the moment. It’s part of why his chemistry with the rest of the group feels so natural to me — he really does fit the connector role.

If you're itching to watch 'Thirty But Seventeen' with English subtitles, the places I check first are Netflix and Rakuten Viki — those two have saved my drama nights more times than I can count. Viki often has community-edited English subs and a subtitle toggle so you can pick subtitle quality or even different English options. Netflix carries it in a bunch of regions too, and their subtitles tend to be polished, so if it’s available where you are, that’s an easy, ad-free route. I’ve also used KOCOWA and Viu depending on my VPN mood and region; both services sometimes hold MBC shows and usually include English subtitles. Another reliable fallback is buying episodes or the season on iTunes/Apple TV or Google Play Movies — it supports the creators and gives you permanent access with official subtitles. For quick clips, sometimes MBC’s official YouTube or partnered channels post episodes with subs, but availability there is patchy. Pro tip from my late-night drama binges: search variations like 'Thirty But Seventeen', 'Thirty, But Seventeen', or '30 but 17' if you don’t find it right away. Always check the subtitle language selector and whether you’re region-blocked. If you care about subtitle accuracy, Viki’s community subs are great because you can glance at comments about translation quality before committing.