(KBS)

EXO’s Kai shared a story about SHINee’s Taemin on Thursday’s episode of KBS variety show “Happy Together 3.”

Though Taemin debuted earlier, the two singers have been best friends since they were both trainees.

When the host asked Kai whether Taemin had been unkind to him when they first met, Kai said, “I was born early (in 1994) so I went to school early.”

In Korea, those who were born in January or February -- before the academic year starts in March -- could enter school early. The system was abolished in 2009.

“It was when we were in the second year of middle school. I approached him, of course, to become friends,” Kai said. “But he asked me to call him ‘hyung,’” which means “older brother” and is used for a boy or man to respectfully address another boy or man at least a year older. While respectful, the formality can also be a hindrance to becoming close friends.

“There was a friend next to me and (Taemin) said to him, ‘Yes, of course we are friends!’ But (to me), he said ‘No, you should call me ‘hyung,’” Kai added.

Taemin explained that he had previously come into conflict with other “early-borns,” so he decided to determine age based on birth year.

“But after everything, he just talked down (to me),” Taemin joked.



By Kim So-yeon (syk19372@herladcorp.com)