5 Facts About The Malaysian Training To Become A K-Pop Idol On A Korean Reality TV Series
She's the only Southeast Asian contestant on the show.
By Tamara Jayne — 02 Apr 2024, 01:49 PM
18-year-old Lingling, who hails from Malaysia, has made it to South Korea's popular survival show, I-Land2: N/A
MNET, the South Korean television network, recently dropped the list of contestants for their upcoming girl group sequel series.
I-Land2: N/A is a reality TV competition aimed at creating a new K-pop girl group, unlike the first season, which formed a boy group named ENHYPHEN.
In the upcoming season premiering on 18 April, all 24 contestants will vie for coveted spots in the girl group.
1. She's turning 19 this year
Her birthday is on 20 April, 2005 — just two days shy of the season's release this year.
2. Lingling is not only the sole Malaysian on the show, but also the only Southeast Asian contestant in the upcoming season
Of the 24 contestants, 16 are from South Korea, six are from Japan, one is both Korean and Japanese, and of course, one is from Malaysia!
3. She likely speaks multiple languages, including Korean, English, Chinese, and Bahasa Melayu
According to Koreaboo, she chose #PolygotGenius as one of her hashtags for her profile on I-Land 2, implying that she speaks several languages.
Watch the clip below of her speaking Korean:
3. Her English name is Alicia Wong, and she apparently attended high school at Xing Hua Secondary School in Klang
4. It's been rumoured that she was a former trainee at YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment launched the careers of some of K-pop's biggest names, such as BIGBANG, 2NE1, and BLACKPINK.
Though Lingling is currently training under WakeOne, a different South Korean entertainment company, it has been said that she was previously with YG Entertainment.
This has caught the attention of many K-pop fans, as YG Entertainment has a reputation for being one of the most difficult companies to get accepted into.
5. She aims to become Malaysia's first female K-pop idol
"I will do my best to become the first female idol from Malaysia!" she said in her profile.
However, she won't be the first Malaysian K-pop idol. Sabah's Isaac Voo already earned that title when he debuted as part of a six-member (originally eight) South Korean boy band, IN2IT, which was formed through the survival show BOYS24.
