Yes yes~ it means a close relationship!
The level of intimacy is similar to japanese people calling each other by their first names.
Right? I always kinda saw Hyung and Noona /Oppa and Unnie as like the Japanese word "Senpai," with people being your "senpai in life" rather than your "senpai at school" ;p
Cute way of phrasing it!!
I feel senpai is not as close as hyung/unnie. I think the Korean equivalent is sunbae.
I wonder if there's a word for an even closer relationship in japan? Hmm
Haha, thanks ヾ(≧▽≦*)o
But yes, sunbae would definitely be the most direct equivalent, same with kohai/hoobae. Not sure if I've come across a proper Japanese equivalent for hyung/unnie...but hey, I'm not Japanese, so there certainly may be! Just probably not as prevalent as hyung/unnie or we'd probably have come across it by now, lol ;p
I've noticed after reading many comics that males address other males who they are close with as "Hyung" and "Dongsaeng". It's not always used to imply that they are literal brothers. So it's all good babies ╮(￣▽￣)╭