Hoobae (후배) — also romanized as hubae — is a Korean honorific. As defined on Dramabeans, it refers to a “junior classmate or colleague. A less intimate and/or more professional term than dongsaeng. But, because hoobae is a term used for a younger person, you don’t address them as ‘hoobae’ — you would just use their name. (For instance: She is my hoobae, but I call her Su Jin.)”

Since a person’s age and social position are of great importance in Korea, being a hoobae entails treating your sunbaes as respectfully as possible. The Korea Blog further expands on this: “There’s a certain protocol to being a seonbae or hubae, though. From the hubae to the seonbae: utmost respect. From the seonbae to the hubae: ‘trickle-down love’ (내리사랑), i.e. love and affection for one’s juniors, or parental love.

One of the most frequent things a hubae might say to their seonbae is ‘Please buy me a meal (밥 사주세요).’ (In Korean, the word for ‘cooked rice’ is synonymous for ‘meal’.) It is custom for a seonbae to look after the well-being of their hubaes and this practice usually reaches far beyond the university years, when it is the most common.

Seonbaes are not there just for hubaes to leech a free meal. Seonbaes give you a lot of advice; they are mentors in your field. If you’re not a “good” hubae who gives the seonbae proper respect, you’re going to be stuck alone to struggle in whatever field you may be. A seonbae has been there, done that, written the book; you actually get very valuable help and advice.

Loyalty is required from both the seonbae and hubae to one another. Sometimes, and in certain circles, the level of respect due to a seonbae is absolute; it is very blatant in sports and the entertainment business, and also in schools with long histories.”