Priority members are enlisting, meaning the checks were getting smaller and smaller.
IDOLISM has a dead member and one retired at the ripe age of 25. Not a great look.
DOUBLETAKE just lost a member, mind you there's only two of them, because of a battery scandal. An even worse look.
It was time. The bullet Son Jinhwa had in his chamber he was waiting to use for the perfect moment.
It was time to debut a girl group.
PICKASTAR would be MYDOL's first ever survival show, starring 45 female trainees divided into 9 teams of 5, or as the show put it "shipped off to their planet" where they would have to work together to appeal to the audience as well as the panel of judges. Though, it mainly mattered if they impressed Son Jinhwa as his vote carried the most weight.
The teams were decided upon before the series aired, but the girls reaction to finding oiut who their teammates were was aired during the first episode.
PICKASTAR aired for a total of 13 episodes, each running for around two hours. Eliminations would happen every three episodes with the lowest ranked team being "kicked out of the galaxy" in a dramatic fashion. The spotlight the eliminated team would be standing under would go out, signifying their elimination and they would have to walk off stage in the dark.
MYDOL was always one for the dramatics.
For the first six episodes the teams would perform covers of KPOP and popular pop songs until Son Jinhwa found himself unimpressed by this and required the teams to start producing, writing, and choreographing their own songs. This acted as a pivitol moment in show, showing off who was more technically trained verse who was naturally gifted as well as cause tension amongst the teams and their members.
Let's get into the show and what went down throughout 2018.
TEAM MERCURY - ELIMINATED EPISODE 3
The first team to be eliminated would be TEAM MERCURY which featured trainees Kim Mina, Celina Kim, Klara Blix, Baek Byeol, and Suzuki Sakura. They performed a cover of GFREIND's "Me gustas tu" and failed to impress Jinhwa or the audience in the sea of upbeat and girlcrush covers. Jinhwa would praise the girls' techicality, but overall call the performance boring and forgettable. The team would be eliminated with 3,000 votes from the audience.
As of 2026, all of Team Mercury has left Mydol and/or the idol industry, three of the five becoming models while Mina and Celina would debut as soloists in 2022.
TEAM SATURN - ELIMINATED EPISODE 6
Team Saturn showed great promise in their first performance with a cover of "BOOMBYAH" by BlackPink garnering 12,000 votes from audiences and approval of Son Jinhwa. The team consisted of Lim Bora, Song Yuna, Kim Jiyeon, Marina Schneiderman, Hirari Yui. While they were very sound in the dancing department, Jinhwa would note that three of the, Yui, Yuna, and Marina were not vocally strong and they'd only go so far based off their dancing ability.
"Anyone can dance," He'd repeatedly tell the contestants, "I don't care if you can dance. You need to be likeable, sing better than anyone, and be able to dance."
Ultimately, in the second cover challenge where they'd perform "Am I Wrong?" by BTS they failed to impress Jinhwa or audiences, gathering around 10,000 votes which would result in their elimination.
Bora, Yuna, and Marina would go on to debut as actresses shortly after leaving Mydol in 2019. Yui would return to Japan where she is an influencer and model. Jiyeon would debut as an indie solo artist in 2023 after getting a degree in business.
TEAM NEPTUNE - ELIMINATED EPISODE 9
Team Neptune was quite promising and well liked by viewers online, mainly for their visual chemistry and dancing abilities. Featuring Bliss Buayaem, Kim Chaerin, Kim Hyeju, Bang Rina, and Takamura Akiko. Like mentioned before, team neptune was never known for their vocal abilities, but rather their personalities and strong dancing abilities. While Jinhwa would give them the same critiques he would give Team Saturn, Team Neptune would be carried by fan voting due to the strong Thai and Japanese fanbase they would accquire.
Their cover of Hard Carry by GOT7 would have them ranking top three with 17,000 votes, while their cover of Highlight in episode six would have them ranking top four with 22,000 votes. Things were looking good for team Neptune until they had to step into the studio.
"HIT YA" was all the girls combined effort into making a song, but with none of them being particularly talented in the producing department, all of them admitting it was what they scored lowest on in their evaluations, it felt like fighting an uphill battle. A battle they would lose. Son Jinhwa would sit shocked at the judes panel, eyes wide, jaw ajar and not be able to utter a word once the performance was done. "Thoroughly unimpressed," he would finally go onto say before motioning them off the stage.
Their votes would plummet to just a measly 10,000, resulting in their elimination.
Bliss would go back to Thailand and start her own dance studio. Chaerin would debut in a girl group under KQ Entertainment, Hyeju would become an actress soon after leaving MYDOL in 2019, Rina would become an influencer who had an attempted acting career, but is now best known for her appearance on Singles Inferno. Akiko would appear on The Process, another MYDOL show, and debut in their second girl group TACK13 in 2024, making her the only eliminated contestant to debut under MYDOL.
TEAM URANUS - ELIMINATED EPISODE 11
Team Uranus was already working at a disadvantage because they got Uranus as their team name, but they did not let that stop them from making an impact. Knowing their name put them at a disadvantage; they made sure to stand out on all fronts, often wearing brightly colored and chunky outfits that would have netizens talking for days.
The team consisted of Lee Minji, Sage Christ, Chloe Zhao, Kim Sora, and Kim Jaeyeon all of which were considered 'aces' to Son Jinhwa. Their covers were quite popular online, resulting in them ranking number one with 45,000 votes in the first episode after their 'Fire Truck' by NCT 127. Their cover of 'Nu Abo' by Fx would leading them to rank third with 27,000 votes.
Their downfall was subtle, but expected. During the first original song challange, they would perform their original song "Not Cute Anymore" which did impress some, but wasn't as eye catching as the other performances, according to Son Jinhwa. They would drop from the top three with a total of 19,000 votes, but were safe from elimination.
Eager to impress during the 'Loud and Proud' episode, the girls would perform a dance heavy and experiemental track titled "Change Up" which failed to impress audiences and, even worse, failed to impress Jinhwa. "It was just loud," He would comment with a shake of his head, "Poorly mixed as well."
Team Uranus would be eliminated with 17,000 votes.
Minji would go onto debut in the SM girlgroup COLORCODED alongside Sage. Chloe would go back to her home state of New York and become a soloist, sitting somewhere in the midteir range. Sora would go onto become an actress who is still signed under Mydol. Jaeyeon would return back to her home in LA and became a popular vlogger and streamer.
TEAM PLUTO - ELIMINATED EPISODE 11
Team Pluto should've been in school, but instead, they were in a survival show. Featuring Liliana Kim, June Song, Park Wonhae, Yabuki Miku, and Kim Sihyeon. All the girls dyed their hair blond to stick out to viewers and the judges, which— Hey! It worked. The controversial aspect of Team Pluto and their popularity was the fact that they were all underage, with the oldest being sixteen and the youngest, Sihyeon, being only thirteen at the time of filming.
Despite their young ages, the girls showed immense promise with their cover of 'Liar Liar' by Oh My Girl, ranking them in first place in the first challenge with a staggering 52,000 votes. Their second cover, Playing with Fire by Blackpink, would rank them in second place with 31,000 votes. The issue never came from their talent, though it was heavily debated amongst netizens if they had talent or not, but on the fact they were children, which Son Jinhwa contemplated a lot when evaluating them.
"I think you're good now," he would tell them after the second challenge, "But...I wish the casting directors had waited until you were older. I'm conflicted about you guys."
Their original song "Attention" in episode 9 would have them again ranking first, reaching 55,000 votes, but would raise speculation online if the girls actually produced the song as it imitated popular Mydol Producer, Finn Lee's, style a little too well. Son Jinhwa would share this sentiment too, but when he questioned Finn on camera, he would say he had nothing to do with the track. Team Pluto would move on to the next round.
The trouble for Team Pluto only arose during the 'Loud and Proud' challenge when they'd perform 'BOOMPALA' which was controversial amongst viewers, but too familiar to Son Jinhwa. He instantly knew the beat was made by none other than his son, another famous MYDOL producer, Son Noah. When Jinhwa would privately question the girls about this, they burst into tears and began profusely apologizing. Miku would tell Jinhwa they stayed up for hours trying to figure out the software and how to use it, but everything they made sounded awful so they reached out to Finn and Noah for help. Jinhwa, though understanding and empathetic to their situation, scolded them for cheating, telling them that if this were any other company, they'd be fired and blacklisted for this. As you can imagine, that sent the teenagers into hysterics. Jinhwa comforted them in saying, "You're at my company, though. I will give you another chance...But not in this competition." and they were unceremoniously kicked off the show.
All the girls would continue to train under Mydol, with the exception of June Song, who would leave Mydol and debut as a soloist under THEBLACKLABEL. She hasn't had a comeback since 2024. Liliana, Miku, Wonhae, and Sihyeon would be featured on 'The Process' but not debut in the final group, TACK13, to the dismay of their fans. The four would leave Mydol, attempting to debut under a lesser-known company in 2024, but the plans would fall through. Liliana, Sihyeon, and Miku would sign to INSTIGATOR RECORDS, a known rival of Mydol, and debut in their first-ever girl group, MissKiss. Park Wonhae would return to Mydol and become a soloist in 2025.
TEAM JUPITER - ELIMINATED IN SEMI - FINALE
Team Jupiter was the 'if you cared about talent, you'd vote for them' team, as everyone on the team was an exceptional and unique vocalist. The team consisted of Jamie Yoon, Suh Yewon, Kim Taeyeon, Park Sara, and Music Napapat, all of whom constantly wowed audiences and Jinhwa with their vocal talents. Though in the first round they'd rank 5th with 15,000 votes, they'd climb the ranks in the second cover challenge with their vocal-heavy performance of 'Angel' by Berrygood.
Once they started producing their own music, they were desperate to prove they were also good performers as well as vocalists. For their first production challenge, they'd release the song 'DALLA DALLA' which showcased high-energy choreography and their strong vocals. Still, they'd remain stagnant in their votes, ranking just high enough to not get eliminated, but not really making an impact. The same could be noted for their Loud and Proud challenge, giving another high-energy performance and stable vocals with the track "CALL ME BAD GIRL" which seemed to be a hit in Brazil. Still, they'd just avoid elimination
Though their performances were high energy, they were just not clicking with audiences, and Son Jinhwa didn't show much interest in them as well, giving them surface-level feedback and praise. "I don't care much for them," He would admit in a confessional, "Visually they don't click for me, but they're talented so...Why get rid of them?"
They'd coast by during the "Cute and Soft" challenge, where they would release "Dance The Night Away" which was a fun track, but wasn't really memorable according to audiences and netizens.
Their elimination would come with their song "GOOD THING" which no one seemed to like. Audiences said they were trying too hard with the concept, the styling was ugly, the vocals were not on par to their usual standard, and the choreography left much to be desired. This would result in them ranking last with an embarrassing 6,000 votes. The elimination was deemed "the most humiliating moment in survival show history" by netizens for years.
All the girls would leave Mydol, attempting to have a solo career of their own, but most of them resorted to acting when it didn't take off. The only one to continue in music would be Jamie Yoon, who would go on to debut under INSTIGATOR RECORDS in 2024 as a soloist. Music would return to Thailand after being in a failed mid-tier nugu girl group, Blissful, for three years, where she is currently a YouTuber and actress.
TEAM EARTH - ELIMINATED IN SEMI-FINALE
The most controversial elimination of the show. With the killer lineup of Lee Heran, Min Sunghee, Chen YinYin, Jung Youngseo, and Marigold Kim, they made a lasting impact on the audience with their visuals, performances, and vocals. Team Earth was a strong contender for the debut group since their covers of 'Blood, Sweat, and Tears' by BTS and 'FXXK IT' by Bigbang. They were the 'edgy' group, according to netizens, with each member having a "dark yet captivating aura that made girls swoon," one netizen would comment.
Their first original song was SUPERNOVA, which, though it kept them in the competition, was divisive amongst fans, but Jinhwa loved it, so that was all that mattered. Their most controversial track would be none other than INTERNET GIRL, which is still talked about in the big year of 2026 for being...very unique. The choreography and high energy performance is most likely what kept them in the competition with that release, but they redeemed themselves in the "Cute and Soft" challenge with "PrettyGirl" which moved them back into the top three.
Despite making it to the semi-finale and consistently ranking high throughout the show, their track for the 'Girl Crush' challenge would send them packing. PSYCHO would fail to impress viewers and Jinhwa, resulting in their elimination.
All of team Earth would leave Mydol except for Lee Heran, who would debut as a soloist under the label. Seunghee, YinYin, Youngseo, and Marigold would debut under YG Entertainment in 2021 in a six-member group.
TEAM MARS - ELIMINATED : FINALE
Team Mars is the biggest 'What If' in the MYDOL lore, due to their popularity throughout the show and their insane starpower together. Quickly establishing themselves as the public's darlings with the lineup of Kim Soyeon, Han Jiwon, Min Yebin, Yoon Chaeyeon, and Seo Dabin. While many expected them to be overshadowed by louder and more experimental teams, their chemistry and charisma made them one of the most beloved groups on PICKASTAR.
Their cover performances of "I Like That" by SISTAR and "Crying" by Stellar were both instant viral moments, with viewers applauding their ability to transform two completely different concepts into something distinctly their own.
Their first original song, KILL THIS LOVE, immediately cemented them as one of the biggest competitors in PICKASTAR. The stage was praised for its powerful choreography, dramatic styling, and a confidence that surprised both the judges and viewers, sending the team soaring into the top rankings.
Their song for the "Loud and Proud" challenge would be PINKY UP, one that divided the judges but became a favorite among younger viewers. Many fans still consider it one of the defining songs of the program.
The group truly found their footing during the "Cute and Soft" challenge with TOUCH, which is often cited by fans as one of the best original songs to ever come from the series. The stage showcased their natural chemistry and addictive choreography, pushing them into the overall rankings' top two and sparking countless discussions about whether Team Mars had become the strongest contender for debut.
For the "Girl Crush," they'd perform their song BANG BANG. The performance received overwhelming praise from viewers and earned millions of views online after the episode aired. Many believed Team Mars had effectively secured their debut with the stage, with comments describing them as "already a finished idol group" amongst netizens.
By the time the finale arrived, Team Mars and Team Venus stood as the last two teams remaining, with public support nearly split down the middle. Their potential debut song, LEMONADE. The performance was met with great praise from the live audience and was widely regarded as one of the strongest finale stages in survival show history.
However, despite Team Mars receiving overwhelming public support, the competition's final outcome rested on Son Jinhwa's deciding vote. Choosing Team Venus as the winners of PICKASTAR, Jinhwa's decision instantly became one of the most controversial moments in Korean survival show history. Fans argued that Team Mars had consistently delivered stronger performances throughout the season, and "Justice for Team Mars" trended across online communities for days following the finale.
Following the show's conclusion, all five members chose to leave Mydol Entertainment rather than remain trainees. Kim Soyeon later debuted as a solo artist under P NATION, Han Jiwon transitioned into acting under BH Entertainment, Park Nari found success as a fashion model and television personality, Yoon Chaeyeon debuted in an indie-pop duo before pursuing songwriting, and Seo Dabin signed with KOZ Entertainment as a producer and occasional solo performer.
TEAM VENUS - WINNER
Team Venus were undeniably Son Jinhwa's. Featuring Jung Yoonah (Baebi), Chloe Lee, Kim Sena, Kim Nakyoung, and Haliya Dela Cruz, the group was consistently praised by Jinhwa for possessing something that could not be taught: star quality. While other teams were often evaluated on vocals or dancing, Team Venus was repeatedly criticized and praised for the same reason; They were unpredictable. "I don't want perfection," Jinhwa would tell the contestants throughout the show. "I want people you cannot stop looking at."
Their first two cover performances immediately established them as frontrunners. Their rendition of "Monster" by EXO shocked audiences with its theatrical concept and commanding stage presence, while their cover of "Buttons" by The Pussycat Dolls became one of the most replayed performances of the season. Though some viewers questioned the maturity of the concept, the performance generated enormous discussion online and propelled Team Venus into the top rankings.
Much of the attention centered around Jung Yoonah AKA Baebi, who entered the competition already known to the public after spending years as a successful child and teenage actress. Her decision to abandon a promising acting career to pursue idol training was heavily debated before the show's premiere, with many believing she was "too famous to be a trainee." Those doubts quickly disappeared as Yoonah proved herself to be one of the strongest performers in the competition, leading Korean forums to nickname her "the main character of PICKASTAR."
"Yoonah already knows how to captivate a camera. My job isn't teaching her how to be a star," Son Jinhwa would chuckle, "It's making sure the other girls can keep up."
The group's first original song, EUNG EUNG, only strengthened their position. The performance earned praise from Jinhwa for having a "clear artistic identity," something he claimed many of the other teams lacked.
Their "Loud and Proud" challenge song, GNARLY, proved to be one of the most divisive performances of the competition. Some viewers dismissed it as noisy and experimental, while others applauded the group's willingness to take risks instead of producing another safe idol track.
Their biggest surprise came during the "Cute and Soft" challenge. Performing DITTO. The performance silenced critics who claimed the group could only succeed with darker concepts and kept them neck-and-neck with Team Mars heading into the final rounds.
For the "Girl Crush" challenge, Team Venus performed CIRCUS, an ambitious and theatrical stage that embodied everything Jinhwa had preached throughout the competition. The song's unconventional structure, intricate choreography, and high-concept styling divided audiences but fascinated the judges.
By the finale, the competition had effectively become a battle between Team Mars and Team Venus, with online communities split almost perfectly in half. Team Venus unveiled their potential debut song, RED LIGHT. The performance was widely praised and immediately sparked discussion about whether it should be officially released regardless of the outcome.
When the final votes were revealed, public support reportedly leaned toward Team Mars, making Son Jinhwa's deciding vote the determining factor in the competition. Choosing Team Venus, he explained that while Team Mars represented the best team, Team Venus represented the future of Mydol Entertainment.
The decision instantly became one of the most controversial moments in Korean survival show history, with "Justice for Team Mars" trending across online communities for days. At the same time, many industry insiders defended Jinhwa's decision, arguing that Team Venus possessed an undeniable individuality that could not be manufactured.
History would ultimately vindicate him. Debuting under Mydol Entertainment with RED LIGHT and keeping the name VENUS, they quickly established themselves as one of the company's most successful acts, with Baebi becoming one of the defining idols of her generation and Chloe, Sena, Nakyoung, and Haliya developing dedicated fanbases of their own.
Even in 2026, however, fans continue to debate the outcome of PICKASTAR, making the rivalry between Team Mars and Team Venus one of the most iconic moments in K-pop survival show history.
TACK13 would be MYDOL's second in-house girl group, debuting in 2024, nearly 6 years after the first MYDOL girl group, VENUS. The group would be introduced in 2023 through a reality-survival show combo called "The Process: Making A Girl Group."
The process would feature twenty-one trainees and a five member Mydol Creative Team, following them through the journey of making a K-pop girl group.
The Mydol creative team for The Process would consist of Son Roan, a former idol and fan favorite creative director, going to take on the future girl group as his first-ever group project, acting as their manager, creative director, and producer, once the show would conclude. The trainees were very comfortable with him as he was one of the nicer judges on the panel and would take care of the trainees by buying their lunches, clothes, and providing a luxury dorm for them.
Analise Zhou, once a soloist, became a vocal director and performance mentor. Beautiful and brutally honest, she was infamous amongst viewers and trainees for building up their confidence just to tear it down moments later. Trainees had a complicated relationship with her because of this. Many still went to her for comfort because she was the only woman on the team, but also knew that she was not always in their corner.
The one and only: Mydol founder and CEO, Son Jinhwa. Jinhwa would oversee The Process, acting as the final decision-maker for eliminations, concept direction, debut lineup approval, and public image. Known for his cold and meticulous nature, he rarely ever praised the trainees, often pointing out flaws only he would seem to notice. Trainees feared him and never got comfortable around him.
With his constantly changing hair color, Lee Gunwook would act as the group's visual director, being the mind behind many of Mydol group's iconic comebacks. Gunwook would handle styling direction, concept photography, teaser aesthetics, branding, and overall visual identity for the debut group. He'd become a divisive figure in The Process, many liking his unpredictable nature and constant disagreements with Roan over the concept. Trainees were comfortable with him despite his rather harsh critiques when they wouldn't impress him.
And lastly, their choreographer and former MYDOL touring dancer, Ben Kim, would sit on the panel. Ben was brought in to keep the trainees synchronized, build their stamina, and their overall stage presence and discipline. Being passionate about dance and idol culture, he was often called a "drill sergeant." Within the practice room, the girls regularly leave exhausted or crying. Though hard on the trainees, they seemed to love him the most out of the mentors and were often seen messing around and being sarcastic with him.
MEET THE ONES WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT...
JENNIE LEE
Birthday: March 11, 2004
Former Company: JYP Entertainment trainee
Eliminated: Episode 4
Mentor Support: Ben Kim
Jennie had natural celebrity aura and camera awareness, but the mentors ultimately cut her because she struggled badly under pressure. During evaluations she frequently forgot lyrics, lost confidence midway through performances, and relied too heavily on visuals to carry stages. Jinhwa bluntly stated that “being photogenic is not a skillset.” Ben argued she simply needed more experience, but the rest of the panel felt she was not mentally stable enough for debut yet.
Fan Favorite Moment: Accidentally cursing on a hot mic after dropping a prop during rehearsals.
FENG SIJIA
Birthday: September 2, 2003
Former Company: HYBE trainee
Eliminated: Episode 8
Mentor Support: Analise Zhou
Sijia’s elimination became one of the show’s biggest debates because viewers felt the mentors were overly harsh on HYBE trainees. Despite being an excellent dancer, the panel repeatedly criticized her fundamentals and weak live vocals. Her biggest issue was confidence. Once she made mistakes, she visibly spiraled. The mentors ultimately felt she was too emotionally fragile for the pressure of a debut lineup.
Most Viral Moment: During Episode 5, Roan asked where she trained before, and when she proudly answered “HYBE,” Gunwook immediately deadpanned, “That’s not an accomplishment.” The room reportedly went silent for several seconds.
LILIANA KIM
Birthday: January 19, 2002
Former Company: Mydol trainee since 2016
Eliminated: Episode 11
Mentor Support: Son Roan
Liliana was technically polished and deeply respected inside Mydol, but the mentors felt she lacked individuality. Jinhwa repeatedly said she felt “too safe,” while Gunwook argued she blended into concepts instead of elevating them. Roan strongly disagreed and believed her professionalism made her essential to the group dynamic, but he ultimately lost the argument.
Fan Favorite Moment: Childhood clip of her saying, “I’ll debut before I become ugly.”
KIM SIHYEON
Birthday: May 28, 2003
Former Company: Mydol trainee since 2016
Eliminated: Episode 13 (Finale)
Mentor Support: Son Jinhwa
Sihyeon’s finale elimination shocked viewers because she had all the qualities of a traditional center. However, the mentors eventually felt she lacked emotional vulnerability and came across overly controlled on camera. Roan worried audiences admired her but did not emotionally connect to her. Jinhwa still wanted her in the lineup until the end, causing major conflict during finale deliberations.
Fan Favorite Moment: Her childhood promise to make enough money so her mother could stop working.
YABUKI MIKU
Birthday: November 14, 2002
Former Company: Mydol trainee since 2016
Eliminated: Episode 10
Mentor Support: Analise Zhou & Son Roan
Miku’s years of training created enormous expectations she unfortunately struggled to meet. The mentors believed her nerves completely swallowed her stage presence, making her performances feel smaller than they were in rehearsals. Ben admitted she practiced harder than almost anyone, but he could not justify debuting someone who disappeared onstage.
HARLOW NILSSON
Birthday: July 8, 2004
Former Company: HYBE trainee
Eliminated: Episode 6
Mentor Support: Son Roan
Harlow had immediate global appeal and one of the strongest social media followings, but the mentors felt her technical skills never caught up to her confidence. Gunwook accused her of “performing like she already debuted,” while Ben repeatedly criticized her weak fundamentals. Roan wanted to keep her because of her obvious star quality, but the panel voted against him.
Fan Favorite Moment: “Beyoncé, they could never make me hate you.”
PARK WONHAE
Birthday: February 3, 2001
Former Company: Mydol trainee since 2016
Eliminated: Episode 12
Mentor Support: Ben Kim
Wonhae was arguably one of the most technically complete trainees remaining near the finale, but she struggled to establish a memorable identity. The mentors admitted she rarely made mistakes, yet somehow still faded beside bigger personalities. Ben believed reliability itself was valuable, but Gunwook argued she felt more like “support structure than centerpiece.”
Fan Favorite Moment: Falling asleep standing up during overnight rehearsals.
IKEDA YUKINO
Birthday: December 29, 2005
Former Company: Mydol trainee
Eliminated: Episode 7
Mentor Support: Lee Gunwook
Yukino’s chaotic personality made her incredible television, but the mentors worried she lacked professionalism. She struggled with consistency and often treated stressful situations too casually. Jinhwa specifically criticized her inability to “switch off variety mode.” Gunwook defended her individuality constantly, believing idols were becoming too manufactured.
Fan Favorite Moment: Accidentally introducing herself in three different languages mid-sentence.
LILAC HAN
Birthday: April 16, 2004
Former Company: Mydol trainee
Eliminated: Episode 9
Mentor Support: Son Roan
Lilac was emotionally beloved by both trainees and viewers, but the mentors questioned whether she had enough standout power for a debut lineup. While everyone agreed she was warm, dependable, and hardworking, the panel struggled to define what role she would specifically dominate within the group. Roan was visibly upset during her elimination because he valued her emotional intelligence deeply.
AURORA MULLER
Birthday: August 21, 2003
Former Company: HYBE trainee
Eliminated: Episode 5
Mentor Support: None consistently
Aurora became the face of the show’s criticism toward HYBE-style training. While visually striking, she lacked synchronization, rhythm control, and restraint during performances. The mentors felt she overperformed every facial expression and had not been properly taught fundamentals before joining the show. Even mentors who liked her visuals admitted she was not ready to debut.
LOVE SMITH
Birthday: October 7, 2001
Former Company: Mydol trainee
Eliminated: Episode 3
Mentor Support: Lee Gunwook
Love’s individuality fascinated Gunwook, but the rest of the mentors worried she was too stylistically niche for a mainstream debut group. Her intimidating image made it difficult for audiences to immediately warm up to her, despite her soft personality offstage. Jinhwa ultimately believed she fit fashion editorials more than idol branding.
Fan Favorite Moment: Crying immediately after being asked if she was scary.
NAVI KUMAR
Birthday: June 25, 2002
Former Company: JYP Entertainment trainee
Eliminated: Episode 11
Mentor Support: Ben Kim
Navi’s elimination caused outrage because she was undeniably one of the best performers on the show. However, the mentors worried her image skewed too mature and intense compared to the softer direction being developed for the debut lineup. Ben fought aggressively to keep her, arguing she was the strongest pure stage performer left, but the concept mismatch ultimately ended her chances.
KIM MISUN
Birthday: October 12, 2007 (Youngest)
Former Company: Mydol trainee
Eliminated: Episode 13 (Finale)
Mentor Support: Analise Zhou
Misun’s age became her biggest obstacle. While the mentors universally agreed she was talented enough to debut, several worried placing someone so young into a high-pressure lineup would damage her emotionally long-term. Roan especially hesitated during the finale because he feared she had not fully experienced life outside training yet.
MARINE
Birthday: September 30, 2006
Former Company: Mydol trainee
Eliminated: Episode 8
Mentor Support: Son Roan
Marine had overwhelming charm and visual popularity, but her vocal weaknesses became impossible to ignore midway through the competition. The mentors believed she relied too heavily on natural likability instead of technical growth. Roan still tried mentoring her privately because he saw massive long-term idol potential in her.
JUNG DANBI
Birthday: April 2, 2005
Former Company: Mydol trainee
Eliminated: Episode 6
Mentor Support: Analise Zhou
Danbi’s biggest enemy was anxiety. Multiple mentors admitted her practice footage looked dramatically better than her actual evaluations, but she consistently froze whenever cameras appeared. Analise argued she simply needed confidence and time, while Jinhwa believed debuting someone unable to handle pressure would be irresponsible.
AND THEN THERE WERE SIX . . .
The final six girls would be decided after thirteen grueling episodes. The lineup was pretty well received by audiences except for Yoomi, who many viewers would call a "sneak" despite it being quite obvious by the framing of the show that she was going to debut. The rest of the girls, Geni, Eme, Harin, Aki, and Misty, were celebrated for making the final lineup, as a majority of them were fan favorites throughout the show.
GENI
Birth Name: Genevieve Rosiello
Birthday: February 7, 2002
Background: Former backup dancer → Mydol trainee
Favored By: Ben Kim
Geni entered The Process with almost no fandom compared to the long-term trainees, but quickly became impossible to ignore once performances started. Before joining Mydol, she worked as a backup dancer for multiple touring artists and music shows, which gave her unusually mature stage instincts compared to the other contestants. She was never the best vocalist, but every single camera naturally found her during performances.
Roan ultimately chose Geni because she gave the group authority. While several trainees looked like “girls trying to debut,” Geni already carried herself like someone who belonged onstage professionally. Roan repeatedly described her as “the spine” of the lineup.
Viral Moment: During Episode 9, a trainee accidentally missed a formation change live onstage and Geni subtly grabbed her wrist mid-performance to pull her back into position without breaking character. The clip exploded online and people started calling her “Captain Geni.”
YOOMI
Birth Name: Kim Yoomi
Stage Name: Yoomi
Birthday: November 23, 2003
Background: Mydol trainee
Favored By: Son Roan
Yoomi became one of the most controversial contestants of the entire season because Roan clearly adored her from the beginning while the other judges remained unconvinced for weeks. She was strange, awkward, emotionally unpredictable, and often performed songs in ways the mentors considered “too specific” or artsy. Gunwook loved her weirdness visually, but Jinhwa repeatedly questioned whether general audiences would understand her.
Roan ultimately refused to let her go because he believed she had the strongest identity out of every trainee on the show. He argued that idols without individuality disappear after debut, while Yoomi felt unforgettable even when she failed. Over time, viewers slowly started understanding what he meant.
Viral Moment: During a serious elimination episode, Yoomi admitted she practiced facial expressions by staring at herself in spoons because “mirrors made her nervous.” The room went completely silent before Ben burst out laughing.
EME
Birth Name: Emmanuelle Baptiste
Stage Name: Eme
Birthday: June 14, 2001
Background: Mydol trainee
Favored By: Son Jinhwa
Eme was considered the most naturally marketable contestant in the competition. She had overwhelming confidence, incredible camera presence, and the ability to make even weak performances look expensive. Jinhwa favored her heavily because she embodied the kind of global idol image Mydol wanted to push internationally.
However, some mentors initially worried Eme relied too much on charisma over technical precision. Roan ultimately included her because every lineup discussion felt emptier without her energy present. Even when she made mistakes, people looked at her first.
Viral Moment: During Episode 6, Eme confidently stared directly into the wrong camera during a live performance for almost thirty seconds and somehow still made it look intentional. The clip became one of the show’s most replayed fancams.
HARIN
Birth Name: Choi Harin
Birthday: April 2, 2004
Background: Former model
Favored By: Lee Gunwook
Harin entered the show with almost no idol training experience because she originally worked in commercial and runway modeling. Early episodes painted her as cold and detached, but viewers slowly realized she was simply extremely shy. She struggled vocally at first, but improved faster than nearly anyone else during the show’s second half.
Gunwook adored Harin from day one because of her visual adaptability and natural elegance on camera. Roan ultimately kept her because she balanced the lineup aesthetically and emotionally. Her quieter energy softened some of the stronger personalities within the final group.
Viral Moment: Harin accidentally walking through the trainee dorm at 3AM wearing a sheet mask, noise-canceling headphones, and carrying a steaming bowl of ramyeon with absolutely no explanation.
AKI
Birth Name: Aki Takamura
Birthday: August 8, 1999
Background: Former J-pop idol
Favored By: Analise Zhou
Aki entered The Process already experienced in performing due to her years in the Japanese idol industry. Unlike many contestants, she rarely looked nervous onstage and consistently ranked high in audience voting because of her bright personality and professionalism. Some trainees quietly resented her experience advantage early on.
Analise favored Aki heavily because she trusted her stability during live performances. Roan ultimately chose her because she naturally unified the other girls during stressful periods. Several contestants later admitted Aki quietly held the trainee environment together emotionally behind the scenes.
Viral Moment: During Episode 10, the trainees were asked to rank who they thought was most likely to survive the industry long-term. Every single contestant except Aki voted for Aki.
MISTY
Birth Name: Sato Mizuki
Stage Name: Misty
Birthday: January 30, 2003
Background: Mydol trainee
Favored By: Son Jinhwa & Ben Kim
Misty had one of the strongest redemption arcs of the season. Early episodes barely focused on her because she blended into the background, but midway through the competition she suddenly exploded in popularity after consecutive standout performances. Her confidence skyrocketed after surviving a near-elimination in Episode 7.
Jinhwa valued Misty because she improved faster than almost anyone else under pressure, while Ben admired how disciplined she became during rehearsals. Roan ultimately finalized her spot because she brought balance. She could adapt to almost any concept without overpowering the group dynamic.
Viral Moment: After surviving elimination, Misty accidentally celebrated too hard and fell directly off the stage stairs live on camera before standing up and bowing like nothing happened
TACK13 WAS BORN !
TACK13, pronounced as TACKY, would debut on April 12th, 2024, with a loud, bright, messy, Y2K concept they stick true to to this day. Throughout the years, they've been called Kpop's darlings, the most hated Kpop group on Twitter, and the blueprint for the Y2K EDM wave currently taking over the industry, as that was their sound since their debut. Often, they're criticized for being a 'performance group' instead of an actual singing idol group, as a lot of their title tracks do not show off their vocal skills. Despite the criticism, TACK13 continues to stand out in its cookie-cutter industry.
NAMES: Leaderz, Billtin, Marllie, DND (Dumb N Dumber), High Society, Almighty Tallests
When people think of leaders, they assume they're always uptight, punctual, and disciplined. But when it comes to this duo, that couldn’t be more false (to an extent). These two are equally chaotic sides of a coin. Despite not having many shared interests outside of music, they have a link that doesn’t require any similar interests. They can just talk and talk and talk, and they’ll never get bored.
Billie believes their bond began during a late-night recording-studio writing session. They were just sharing ideas and proceeded to write multiple demos in one evening. Martin believes it started when Billie barged into the studio, threw a bag of Lays at him, and told him to get his daily sodium intake. He didn't even respond- he just silently ate the chips while they got to work on their music.
Despite both being introverted (especially Billie), they have a way of bringing the extroversion out each other. On top of that, they’re also said to be the loudest, most chaotic duo. The other members joke about being able to hear these two in the studio singing, joking and laughing… from across the building. It’s a miracle they’re both charming, or BIGHIT would drop both of them in a heartbeat.
Alas, despite the chaos, they’re the leaders for a reason. Just as quickly as they can get chaotic and unhinged, they can straighten up and get themselves and the rest of the team in order. That makes them the most flexible duo in the group. Oh, and how could I forget their heights as another reason this duo is so popular? On top of their humorous and charming personalities, people were shocked to hear HYBE’s tallest female idol and tallest male idol were in the same group. And they’re super good friends, no less!
Key Points
Billie copies Martin’s words, moves or sitting positions to get on his nerves. Martin acts annoyed, but he’s just very amused.
Martin always does things to impress the others. Billie isn’t fazed by Martin’s antics, but goes along with whatever he does.
They have the most obnoxious laughter in the best way possible. When one of them starts laughing, like a chain reaction, 9 times out of 10, the other will start laughing too.
They both know when to tone down the chaos and command a group. Typically, Martin is in charge of the boys, and Billie is in charge of the girls. But together, they can command everyone swiftly and efficiently.
They cannot tell you the other's favorite color or birthday. However, they can and will give you an in-depth story about each other's most embarrassing moments.
the story of eye of heaven, from sun searchers to now. from a number one sunlight. tw: injuries, overworking, mentions of abuse, drug use, hate trains, mobs.
word count: 1388 words.
as an EYE OF HEAVEN stan (or otherwise known as a sunlight) since their predebut survival show "SUN SEARCHERS", i feel that i am incredibly qualified in the department of detailing the history of EOH to new fans, or anyone who's just curious about everything.
so grab your snacks and get comfy because with more than a decade of being active, there is a good portion of things we have to cover.
now i'm sure if you're tuned into the industry at all, you've seen some of the headlines that have gone around about this group. with that in mind, it's important that throughout this video you remember that while SHINE ENT. does a great job at creating successful groups, they do not give a fuck about the wellbeing of their idols.
EOH was the first group to ever come out of SHINE, and they wanted to make a big impression with their first (and soon to be most successful) act. it took a lot of deliberation in the the management offices but SHINE eventually determined that their ideal course of action would be to host a "survival show".
this survival show entitled SUN SEARCHERSc consisting of eighteen of the company's twenty two male trainees all competing for a spot in the company's first ever group's debut lineup. cool right? we had already seen it before with companies like JYP with SIXTEEN and STARSHIP with NO:MERCY and those groups turned out pretty successful, what could go wrong here?
a lot of things apparently.
for starters, the show would take place from october 12th to december 11th, 2014, making the oldest contestant 25 and the youngest contestant, MINGYEOM just 14. while in retrospect, this brought up a lot of concern from fans, viewers at the time actually didn't seem to notice enough to care due to both MINGYEOM and KADE being pushed as "visuals" within the show's promotions. with even the judges constantly praising their "mature" looks and "sexiness".
the most popular clip you may have seen from SUN SEARCHERS would probably be the episode where XINGXI was introduced to the other contestants. fresh off the plane from china with the intention to just be a trainee under SHINE, the staff would actually bring him to the SUN SEARCHERS dorms and introduce him as a new contestant nearly halfway through the show. XINGXI would receive a massive hate train both online and from some of the other SHINE trainees for the "special treatment" he received, and this hate would unfortunately last so long that it would eventually lead to his departure from the group.
another thing that would become a big source of controversy later on was the fact that the other eleven trainees were revealed to never have been in contention for debuting. unbeknownst to these additional trainees nor the final lineup, SHINE actually was dead set on the lineup, even with the inclusion of XINGXI from day one, and only used SUN SEARCHERS as a form of publicity. it was just a waste of the other eleven trainees' time and wellbeing being forced through the stress of mission after mission.
the debut lineup from SUN SEARCHERS would be "revealed" as 1ST PLACE, fifteen year old KADE NOE, 2ND PLACE, nineteen year old SUCHART "RIVER" YONTARARAK, 3RD PLACE, twenty year old JWA JINYOUNG, 4TH PLACE, fourteen year old YOON MINGYEOM, 5TH PLACE, nineteen year old NIU CHENXI, 6TH PLACE, twenty one year old GYEON CHAEEON, and 7TH PLACE, nineteen year old LUO XINGXI.
even with the amount of negative attention EOH was receiving before their feet even touched the debut stage, you couldn't deny the fact that the drama was intriguing enough for fans (like myself) to be in anticipation for their debut.
EOH would debut on january 3rd, 2015 with a mini album titled SUNRISE which would actually be pretty well received by fans due to all the attention they had been getting from everything that went wrong with SUN SEARCHERS.
the next two comebacks would both go by relatively smoothly with varying levels of success and surprisingly little to no controversy considering the amount of things that get brought up each comeback nowadays.
the problems would start to arise with the groups third comeback IF YOU DO. it was a more mature concept than what the boys had been performing previously, and while not super sexy or anything, fans were starting to get weirded out since two of the members were still minors at the time. during a pre show filming for one of the music shows they were performing on, MINGYEOM would fall due to a stage malfunction and would injure his right knee and ankle, fans who were able to be there in person recall that the injury seemed bad enough that MINGYEOM was crying even moving his leg at all, and many believed that they would either delay the performance or do so without the maknae. however, they were shocked to see that EOH would perform IF YOU DO with MINGYEOM right there like nothing happened, and the maknae would not be seen entering a hospital until promotions for the song were over. which was an additional week after the injury.
MINGYEOM's leg injury would be the first in a series of concerning scandals regarding the safety of the EOH members. from several more injuries that went either untreated completely or pushed aside for comebacks, alleged abuse of the youngest members, fans mobbing the members at schedules allegedly sold to fans, foreign members getting excessive hate for speaking their native languages (which mind you is 4/7 members) and drug use allegations (which in my opinion should have been the least of their worries??!!)
unable to just ignore the backlash like intended, SHINE would surprisingly put EOH on a hiatus on may 3rd, 2020 in an attempt to get things to cool down a bit. this ended up having the opposite effect because it just made sunlights even more concerned about what was going on behind the scenes when they weren't performing meaning we could at least see them.
the hiatus would end on december 5th, 2020 when EOH would release their single BYE BYE BYE, a weirdly joyful song considering the circumstances and current concept. and fans would soon notice that only six member would be active during it, meaning no XINGXI.
this would also be an extremely weird comeback due to the name being BYE BYE BYE, and XINGXI announcing his departure from the group days into promotions, leading fans to wonder if the comeback was the company's sick way of announcing it, especially due to the tense and/or upset expressions of the members throughout every interview and performance.
albeit six members now, unfortunately the group garnered even more popularity after XINGXI left, due to the amount of hate he got and unfortunately shed on the group. even some sunlights admit to being relieved when his departure was revealed.
the success and quality of the comebacks got so good from 2020-2023 that it sort of became hard for fans to remember what was concerning us so badly a few years ago, even if it was still happening right in front of us. could you blame us? songs like CALLING MY NAME, DEER HUNTER and BTBT are kind of hard to just ignore for the sake of making a statement, especially when SHINE hasn't listened to anything.
we sunlights were sort of in a sense of bliss for that three year period, while some of us were definitely missing XINGXI, we couldn't help our shoulders moving with comeback after comeback. which is why we were kind of blindsided when after CHAEEON left for the military in 2024 and was supposed to return at the beginning of 2026, he just never came back to the group. at first it was just silence on both his and SHINE's end, but then in march we got a singular post on instagram and that's it.
so from seven to five, through . . . all of that stuff, as you can tell sunlights, and obviously EYE OF HEAVEN have been through a lot. and i hope this doesn't scare you off, because this group is really great if you take the time to tune in, and even if you just stream, we'd appreciate it!
anyways, stan EYE OF HEAVEN now!
★ FORMER: GYEON "CHAEEON" . 01.17.94 — leader, main rapper, sub vocalist . JWA "JINYOUNG" . 03.09.95 — visual, main dancer, sub rapper . NIU "CHENXI" . 04.27.96 — leader*, main vocalist, sub rapper . SUCHART "RIVER" YONTARARAK . 05.18.96 — main dancer, visual, vocalist . FORMER: LUO "XINGXI" . 11.06.96 — main dancer, rapper . "KADE" NOE . 12.02.99 — center, lead vocalist, lead dancer, sub rapper . YOON "MINGYEOM" . 02.14.00 — face of the group, maknae, main vocalist.
★ GROUP INFORMATION: NAME . eye of heaven (하늘의 눈) . LABEL. shine entertainment . DEBUT DATE. january 3rd, 2015 . GREETING. "shining as brightly as the sun, we are the eye of heaven!" . FANDOM NAME. sunlights . FANDOM COLORS. sunshine yellow and sunburnt orange.
✧ introducing !! ✧ RueB (pronounced "Ruby", and short for Rueful Beloved) debuted in February 2021 as a six-member Korean girl group with a bone to pick — each member wronged by the patriarchal entertainment industry in some way. After Rain Entertainment (A.R.E), led by a female CEO determined to provide a safe haven for mistreated idols, formed RueB as their first project: an attempt to break into the industry with something bold yet undeniably authentic. Their formation was a middle finger to their abusers, to their haters, and most importantly, to the men who thought they could control them.
Forming a group hasn’t made the harsh realities of the industry disappear, but it has empowered them to weather the storm together and given them a platform to encourage others to do the same—whatever their personal storm may look like. Their stories and powerful music paint a picture of the lengths women will go to be loved, to be accepted, and to be successful. Each member of RueB carries her own scars, her own regrets, and her own reasons she continues to stand on stage, despite it all. True to their ruby namesake, pressure made them.
RueB believes their fans - their Jewels - deserve to Be Loved. Most importantly, they hope to convey their message of regret: changing yourself to please someone else, to please the world, ends with rue—let that cycle end with you.
Continue reading to meet the six women who turned pressure into power.
(Note/tw: RueB’s story explores heavy themes related to the entertainment industry, including mistreatment, exploitation, public scrutiny, health struggles, and identity under pressure. Please read with care. Minors dni w/ trigger warned posts.)
✧ Korean Name: Ri Ji-Na ✧ English Name: Gina Ri ✧ Stage Name: Regina ✧
✧ Birthday: 04/11/1997 (28) ✧ Zodiac: Aries ✧ Birthplace: New York, NY ✧
✧ Nationality: Korean-American ✧ Languages: English, Korean ✧ FC: Haseul ✧
✧ Positions: Leader, Lead Vocalist ✧ MBTI: ENFJ (The Protagonist) ✧
✧ Years Trained: 4 with A.R.E, plus several years of musical theatre training prior ✧
Young Ri Ji-Na once pictured herself on a Broadway stage, not performing on Korean music shows for a living. As the group’s only Korean-American member, Ji-Na spent her entire childhood in the States. Even from a young age, she was always passionate about singing and dance—a theater kid through and through.
As she tried to break into the theater industry as a young adult, she quickly realized her talent would never outweigh her ethnicity in the eyes of casting directors. A victim of underrepresentation and bias on Broadway, yet unable to imagine herself anywhere but the stage, Ji-Na eventually turned to the K-pop industry. There, her prior musical training and relentless ambition had companies offering contracts left and right, but only A.R.E made her feel truly seen and understood.
Surprisingly, the bilingual, extroverted vocalist was not the original leader of RueB. That role initially belonged to Soonja, who eventually stepped down after realizing she was not the best fit for the position. Both women faced criticism following the decision—Soonja was labeled a failure by haters, while Regina was painted as a usurper by Soonja’s fans. However, Regina’s outgoing yet steady personality, her passion for advocacy, and her angelic vocals have made her both the calm and the storm. Truly, she embodies the meaning of her English and stage name—RueB’s fearless queen.
✧ Korean Name: Hyong Soon-Ja ✧ Stage Name: Soonja ✧
✧ Birthday: 01/29/1997 (28) ✧ Zodiac: Aquarius ✧ Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea ✧ Nationality: Korean ✧ Languages: Korean, Japanese ✧ FC: Dami ✧
✧ Positions: Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist ✧ MBTI: INTP (The Logician) ✧
✧ Years Trained: 8 with A.R.E ✧
As one of A.R.E’s very first trainees at the age of fifteen, most of Soonja’s challenges occurred under—and despite—the care of management. She originally joined with the intention of producing music, a bit too blunt and forward to fit the typical charismatic idol image. While creating samples and demos, she quickly demonstrated her ability to rap and even sing. With her deep voice being one of the most unique and memorable in the industry, the company couldn’t imagine anyone else performing her songs.
After much encouragement, she began training her performance skills. After eight years of training and excelling in every area—rap, dance, vocals—she earned the title of “all-rounder.” As one of the oldest and most experienced trainees, she was chosen to be RueB’s leader, despite insisting she wasn’t the best fit. She was organized and rational, sure, but she knew the role would be a heavy burden for an introvert who preferred quiet and isolation. Producing, dancing, rapping, singing, and leading—it was all a bit too much.
While she’d like to say she balanced it flawlessly, toxic fans left her willpower shaky. Her deep voice, celebrated by many, led others to call her “man-ish.” Her tomboyish, blunt nature caused fans to question her sexuality. Even being an all-rounder was used against her, with critics saying she should have gone solo to avoid overpowering the other members. It often felt like she couldn’t win, and her mental health suffered as a result. Eventually, she relinquished the leadership role to Regina—a decision that was also a double-edged sword. Since the switch, she has been more reserved than usual, unable to shake the feeling that she has failed the group. Yet in the eyes of her members, she remains the wisest and strongest, even if she expresses it differently than Regina. The group’s powerful music—the very vehicle of their message—wouldn’t exist without her, after all.
✧ Name: Mayuree Paithoonbuathong ✧ Stage Name: May ✧
✧ Birthday: 09/17/1997 (28) ✧ Zodiac: Virgo ✧ Birthplace: Chiang Mai, Thailand ✧
✧ Nationality: Thai ✧ Languages: Thai, Korean ✧ FC: Minnie ✧
✧ Positions: Main Vocalist ✧ MBTI: ISFJ (The Defender) ✧
✧ Years Trained: 4 with A.R.E ✧
Mayuree? Well, she’s not actually missing—despite haters’ attempts to argue otherwise. In reality, May’s voice has always been a pillar of RueB’s music, her powerful, soulful vocals carrying many of their most notable songs. Unfortunately for the group’s main vocalist, she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia during her trainee years at A.R.E. While doctors can’t say for certain what caused it, the stress and turmoil of trying to succeed as a foreigner in the industry likely played a role.
She hid her struggles from management for as long as she could, even managing to debut before collapsing on stage during one of their early performances. The company ultimately rallied around her, providing resources to help her manage her condition so she could remain an active member of the group. However, the idol lifestyle is hard enough without chronic pain and fatigue—both of which are worsened by packed schedules, long dance practices, and little sleep.
Every couple of comebacks, it seems May is placed on “hiatus” due to her health issues, leading many fans to question why she remains in the group at fall—especially when Yawen and Regina have proven capable of covering her vocals fairly well. When she is able to take the stage, however, May is a powerhouse, often performing as if she has to prove herself to fans all over again each time.
✧ Name: Lin Yawen ✧ Stage Name: Yawen ✧
✧ Birthday: 02/23/1999 (26) ✧ Zodiac: Pisces ✧ Birthplace: Shanghai, China ✧
✧ Nationality: Chinese ✧ Languages: Chinese, Korean ✧ FC: Xiaoting ✧
✧ Positions: Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist ✧ MBTI: INFP (The Mediator) ✧
✧ Years Trained: 3 years with A.R.E ✧
Even though it’s not officially her role, fans are unsurprised to learn that Yawen is RueB’s center. As the group’s best dancer, with a piercing gaze and vocals to match, she is arguably one of the most captivating members on stage. Yet all that talent hasn’t come without a price.
Lin Yawen was fortunate to be born into a well-off family, with her mother being the CEO of a chemical company in China. That privilege granted her more opportunities than most as a child—a fact she readily acknowledges. What most don’t realize, however, is that beneath the polished surface, her family was toxic and controlling. Such traits are typical of those trying to protect their wealth. Yawen’s mother, obsessed with appearances, pressured her to be perfect in every way, even encouraging plastic surgery before she turned eighteen. Despite being a commanding presence under the stage lights, Yawen is shy and quiet offstage, often careful not to anger anyone—a lingering effect of her upbringing.
Joining the K-pop industry allowed her to pursue her love of music, but also to escape. Unsurprisingly, her parents cut her off, leaving her with little means and in a new country with no one to turn to. Fortunately, A.R.E stepped in to provide support, offering her a lifeline and the guidance she needed. Still, her family’s shadow follows her everywhere—not literally, but in the eyes of fans. Terms like “nepo-baby” and “silver spoon” are all too familiar. Though convinced she may never be fully free of her legacy, Yawen is determined to carve her own path—alongside her members.
✧ Name: Khang Da-Hee ✧ Stage Name: Dahee ✧
✧ Birthday: 08/05/2000 (25) ✧ Zodiac: Leo ✧ Birthplace: Busan, South Korea ✧
✧ Nationality: Korean ✧ Languages: Korean ✧ FC: Aisha ✧
✧ Positions: Lead Rapper, Lead Dancer ✧ MBTI: ESFP (The Performer) ✧
✧ Years Trained: 3 years with A.R.E ✧
As RueB’s unofficial Visual and Face of the Group, even the most casual K-pop listeners know Dahee’s face—whether or not they know her name. Her sultry voice and powerful dance skills make her impossible to look away from, whether she’s commanding the stage or gracing your social media feed with her presence.
However, her natural charisma, paired with an affectionate and outgoing personality, has often made Dahee a target of the K-pop rumor mill. Fans praise her beauty—until they suspect she’s “dating” their favorite idol. That’s when the hate comments and even death threats begin. For a time, she tried to tone down her extroverted nature, shy away from other idols, and dress more conservatively, but it did little good. If anything, she felt less and less like herself, growing even further from who she truly was than the version painted by the media.
More recently, with encouragement from her group members, Dahee has entered an era of fully embracing everything that makes her her—and she’s not sorry about it. Besides, attention from haters is still attention. So go ahead and make the group more popular by hating her. She’ll tell your bias you said hello in the meantime. xoxo
✧ Name: Yasuda Kimiko ✧ Stage Name: Kimiko ✧
✧ Birthday: 11/18/2001 (23) ✧ Zodiac: Scorpio ✧ Birthplace: Osaka, Japan ✧
✧ Nationality: Japanese ✧ Languages: Japanese, Korean ✧ FC: Yuki ✧
✧ Positions: Lead Rapper, Maknae ✧ MBTI: ISFP (The Adventurer) ✧
✧ Years Trained: 1 year with A.R.E, 1 year as a J-pop trainee ✧
Originally a J-pop trainee in Japan, Kimiko debuted in a three-member Japanese girl group at the young age of sixteen. You can probably already guess where her story is going—the unfortunate reality faced by many young idols in the industry. She was forced to maintain a “cute” idol image while being simultaneously sexualized by fans, a contradiction that left her deeply uncomfortable and torn between two versions of herself, neither of which felt true. Management didn’t care, and contractually, she had no choice but to comply.
Recognizing that a change was necessary, her parents—fortunate enough to have the means—paid to terminate her contract early, allowing Kimiko to try her luck in the K-pop industry instead. This time, she was far more selective, choosing a company only after she was certain they could be trusted not to exploit her. She ultimately debuted with RueB at a proper age of eighteen, though many of her struggles as the youngest and least experienced member have yet to disappear.
Even now, so-called fans continue to baby her, unable to fully separate her from the cutesy image imposed on her early in her career. Beneath it all, Kimiko simply wants to be taken seriously—for both her opinions and her talent. More than that, her current obstacles are faced far from home, away from her family. Luckily, the other members of RueB have become her second home, always making sure she feels heard and included whenever they can. What Kimiko lacks in experience, she makes up for with resilience, passion, and empathy.
BAIKYU MOUZONÉ , professionally known as RAE, is a fictional soloist. street racer. and global superstar signed to 4AM RECORDS based in south korea. after dropping out of university to start street racing for EASY MONEY rae was scouted during a match by a talented agent. originally she thought it was a SCAM until said talent agent called her a week later, informing her that they’d seen her potential based off of her social media feed and unique driving skills they had wanted her to come and join an intensive training program at their company.
