Participants of JTBC’s new audition program “R U Next?” have been unveiled, drawing attention.
“R U Next?” is a new audition program that will air on JTBC from June 30th. It is a survival program that selects the third girl group to be launched by HYBE after LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans as well as the first girl group under Enhypen’s agency Belift Lab.
After the trainee lineup was recently revealed, special attention was paid to all 22 trainees.
Out of 22 participants of “R U Next?”, 11 are Korean and 9 are foreigners. 2 of them have dual citizenship of Korea and the United States.
What is unique is that there are no Chinese participants. The foreign members consisted only of 7 Japanese and 2 Thai. It is a combination that seems to focus on Korean members rather than a multinational group.
Global auditions held by HYBE originally take place in many countries around the world, mainly in Asia, but not in China. There are several global K-pop groups that include Chinese members in consideration of the Chinese market, but HYBE is an exception. Among groups under HYBE, the only group that includes Chinese members is Seventeen.
In addition, it is noteworthy that all of the trainees participating in “R U Next?” were born in the 2000s. None were born in the 90s. From the oldest born in 2002 to the youngest born in 2011, it is expected that the members will be between early teens and early 20s. It foreshadows a complete generational shift.
While senior girl groups who debuted earlier are working impressively, attention is focused on how HYBE’s new girl group, which will be born through “R U Next?”, will capture the hearts of K-pop fans.
Source: Daum
