K-Pop History Is Made As The Only Two Male Taeraes In The World Born In 2002 Meet At “KCON Japan”

We’ve written before about K-Pop idols with some of the rarest names in the industry, both first names as well as surnames. Some of these names are just rare in K-Pop, while others are rare in the world as a whole.

When it comes to two idols, their names are so rare that they were the only boys born in the world in their birth year to have their name — and they both somehow ended up in the K-Pop industry!

Kim Taerae of TEMPEST was born on May 9, 2002 — meaning he just turned 21! — and is the rapper and maknae of his group. Meanwhile, Kim Taerae of ZEROBASEONE was born on July 14, 2002. They are the only two male Taeraes that were born in 2002, and they happen to share the same surname too!

According to online statistics, there were just three Taeraes born in 2002 — one a girl, along with the two idols — and the name is so rare that between 2008 and 2023, only 20 people were born with that name (with the last one born in 2018).

When TEMPEST’s Taerae was told about the ZEROBASEONE member a couple of months ago (back when the trainee was a contestant on Boys Planet), the TEMPEST member expressed his desire to greet his name-sharer if they ever had the opportunity to meet.

The fact alone that the only two 2002-born male Taeraes ended up becoming K-Pop idols is amazing enough, but it turns out that the two of them already had the chance to meet each other thanks to KCON Japan 2023!

Both TEMPEST and ZEROBASEONE attended the event, which was held from May 12 to 14. Not only were the two captured greeting each other, but TEMPEST’s Taerae also mentioned the moment later on in messages to fans!

Taerae (TEMPEST): Today I met another Taerae

Taerae: We greeted each other enthusiastically

Taerae: Same place, same Taerae

Taerae: It was so interesting

It would be great if the two of them developed a friendship over their shared names and occupations! A Reddit thread was even made about their meeting, with K-Pop fans feeling endeared by the entire situation.

Comment
by u/Big_Tomorrow886 from discussion A new history made – Tempest Taerae and ZB1 Taerae finally met at KCON Japan! (a.k.a the super rare name: the only two 2002-liner male Taeraes in Korea)
in kpopthoughts

Comment
by u/coco_xcx from discussion A new history made – Tempest Taerae and ZB1 Taerae finally met at KCON Japan! (a.k.a the super rare name: the only two 2002-liner male Taeraes in Korea)
in kpopthoughts

Comment
by u/Niight_Owl from discussion A new history made – Tempest Taerae and ZB1 Taerae finally met at KCON Japan! (a.k.a the super rare name: the only two 2002-liner male Taeraes in Korea)
in kpopthoughts

Comment
by u/Neravariine from discussion A new history made – Tempest Taerae and ZB1 Taerae finally met at KCON Japan! (a.k.a the super rare name: the only two 2002-liner male Taeraes in Korea)
in kpopthoughts

Comment
by u/Strawberuka from discussion A new history made – Tempest Taerae and ZB1 Taerae finally met at KCON Japan! (a.k.a the super rare name: the only two 2002-liner male Taeraes in Korea)
in kpopthoughts

It’s amazing how coincidences like this can happen in the K-Pop industry!