Age doesnt have anything to do with "sunbaenim" status afaik. That term is about years of experience in the industry or field they work in, i think. For Kpop it seems to be related to who debuted first.
Technically, you could argue that Jimin should be calling Sakura "sunbaenim" she has more experience as an idol and started earlier. Unless there is some rule that foreign experience doesnt count lol, then Sakura's debut date would probably be Izone's date, Oct 2018.
Age doesnt have anything to do with "sunbaenim" status afaik. That term is about years of experience in the industry or field they work in, i think. For Kpop it seems to be related to who debuted first.
Technically, you could argue that Jimin should be calling Sakura "sunbaenim" she has more experience as an idol and started earlier. Unless there is some rule that foreign experience doesnt count lol, then Sakura's debut date would probably be Izone's date, Oct 2018.
No, even Izone's debut isn't counted since they have disbanded and she entered Hybe as a 'rookie' idol. It's interesting because i can see some kpop stans only use the seniority card when it's convenient for them but if we talk about awards and achievements, they're suddenly a 4th gen group hence they deserve all the 'rookie' awards lol
No, even Izone's debut isn't counted since they have disbanded and she entered Hybe as a 'rookie' idol. It's interesting because i can see some kpop stans only use the seniority card when it's convenient for them but if we talk about awards and achievements, they're suddenly a 4th gen group hence they deserve all the 'rookie' awards lol
Wut? Are you trolling me? So, an idol's "seniority" status disappears and goes back to zero after their group disbands? Does that mean all those 1st gen boomer idols like Lee Hyori who have long since retired now must refer to New Jeans members as "sunbaenim"??? 
I dont think that's how it works. I'm pretty sure debut date and years of experience are what matters. I think Sakura is technically Jimin's sunbaenim unless there is some rule against using J Idol experience when determining seniority of Kpop idols lol.
Wut? Are you trolling me? So, an idol's "seniority" status disappears and goes back to zero after their group disbands? Does that mean all those 1st gen boomer idols like Lee Hyori who have long since retired now must refer to New Jeans members as "sunbaenim"???
I dont think that's how it works. I'm pretty sure debut date and years of experience are what matters. I think Sakura is technically Jimin's sunbaenim unless there is some rule against using J Idol experience when determining seniority of Kpop idols lol.
It's not that simple. There are many things to consider, not just how many years you have been in the industry. Age, social or workplace's status and even self-awareness too. What's important is Sakura herself called Jimin her sunbae, that is enough to end the your argument.
That Lee Hyori comparison makes no sense. 1st, she is not just much older but there's 2-3 gens gap between them lol. 2nd, she's more accomplished than New jeans. She is even a much bigger sunbae than who Jimin is to Sakura.
No, even Izone's debut isn't counted since they have disbanded and she entered Hybe as a 'rookie' idol. It's interesting because i can see some kpop stans only use the seniority card when it's convenient for them but if we talk about awards and achievements, they're suddenly a 4th gen group hence they deserve all the 'rookie' awards lol
Looks like we are both right and wrong.
Seniority doesnt expire just because your group disbands. Whoever debuts first is considered sunbae in the industry as a whole.
However, there seems to be a caveat when it comes to idols in the same company. Because Jimin and Sakura are both at Hybe now, Jimin would be considered sunbae because like you said he started there before she did.
From some rando Korean language blog:
Sunbae in K-pop
Regardless of age, whoever debuted first is sunbae in the K-pop industry.
BIGBANG are sunbae to BTS, and 2NE1 are sunbae to BLACKPINK.
What does sunbae mean in Korean?
Sunbae (์ ๋ฐฐ in hangul) is a title for someone in a higher grade at the same school, or someone who started their career or job before you did at the same company.
Display MoreLooks like we are both right and wrong.
Seniority doesnt expire just because your group disbands. Whoever debuts first is considered sunbae in the industry as a whole.
However, there seems to be a caveat when it comes to idols in the same company. Because Jimin and Sakura are both at Hybe now, Jimin would be considered sunbae because like you said he started there before she did.
From some rando Korean language blog:
Sunbae in K-pop
Regardless of age, whoever debuted first is sunbae in the K-pop industry.
BIGBANG are sunbae to BTS, and 2NE1 are sunbae to BLACKPINK.
What does sunbae mean in Korean?
Sunbae (์ ๋ฐฐ in hangul) is a title for someone in a higher grade at the same school, or someone who started their career or job before you did at the same company.
At the end of the day, what we say or assume here don't matter. What matters is Sakura herself called Jimin 'sunbaenim'. And the people around them seem to think it's common sense too. End of story. 
Display MoreLooks like we are both right and wrong.
Seniority doesnt expire just because your group disbands. Whoever debuts first is considered sunbae in the industry as a whole.
However, there seems to be a caveat when it comes to idols in the same company. Because Jimin and Sakura are both at Hybe now, Jimin would be considered sunbae because like you said he started there before she did.
From some rando Korean language blog:
Sunbae in K-pop
Regardless of age, whoever debuted first is sunbae in the K-pop industry.
BIGBANG are sunbae to BTS, and 2NE1 are sunbae to BLACKPINK.
What does sunbae mean in Korean?
Sunbae (์ ๋ฐฐ in hangul) is a title for someone in a higher grade at the same school, or someone who started their career or job before you did at the same company.
I think for Sakura they don't take in consideration her debut in Japan because most Koreans got to know her through pd48 so to them she made her debut in 2018
Sakura isn't held to the same standard she's Japanese not Korean lol so we don't care if she calls jimin sunbaenim even if she's technically the senior here๐คฃ. The strictness only applies to us Koreans. Example a member of SHINee would never call a BTS member sunbaenim even if SHINee joined HYBE today even if the members had the same age nothing trumps seniority here not even age
Sakura isn't held to the same standard she's Japanese not Korean lol so we don't care if she calls jimin sunbaenim even if she's technically the senior here๐คฃ. The strictness only applies to us Koreans. Example a member of SHINee would never call a BTS member sunbaenim even if SHINee joined HYBE today even if the members had the same age nothing trumps seniority here not even age
So debut date actually trumps everything else, even seniority within a company? If Heechul quit SUJU and joined Hybe, he would refer to BTS as his hoobae and BTS would refer to him as a sunbae?
And what is the appropriate way for Jimin to address Sakura? Should he refer to her as "sunbaenim" Or does her being Japanese or her not being a Korean idol until Izone mean that Jimin wouldnt have to refer to her as "sunbaenim"?
What's his reaction to that? Does he find it normal? Has he talked about it?
Ill be waiting 
So debut date actually trumps everything else, even seniority within a company? If Heechul quit SUJU and joined Hybe, he would refer to BTS as his hoobae and BTS would refer to him as a sunbae?
And what is the appropriate way for Jimin to address Sakura? Should he refer to her as "sunbaenim" Or does her being Japanese or her not being a Korean idol until Izone mean that Jimin wouldnt have to refer to her as "sunbaenim"?
yes. heechul is sunbae to bts.
i think its up to jimin since its only relevant in the kpop industry. he can refer to her as sunbae if he thinks her jpop years should count. but if not that would also not be a problem.
So debut date actually trumps everything else, even seniority within a company? If Heechul quit SUJU and joined Hybe, he would refer to BTS as his hoobae and BTS would refer to him as a sunbae?
And what is the appropriate way for Jimin to address Sakura? Should he refer to her as "sunbaenim" Or does her being Japanese or her not being a Korean idol until Izone mean that Jimin wouldnt have to refer to her as "sunbaenim"?
Yes heechul will be sunbae regardless because of his seniority in the industry and the related works thst he ahd BTS work in. Sakura? With Jimin would only change based on how he precived her experience in the industry from Japan to Korea. Though the music industry technically is the same she is in a different industry and is a newbie in kpop. This is obviously different with others who are also producers so someone like say justin beiber would always be sunbae because he's also a producer and has been creating music for decades or making music for other artists so even if he joined kpop he wouldn't be referred to as a rookie by others
Doesn't matter what you feel, only people that matter are those that are apart of this county's culture period.
honey this is just a post, chill
What's his reaction to that? Does he find it normal? Has he talked about it?
He calls them cute juniors 
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