Who will be the final member to debut as part of the "KATSEYE sister group"? Out of about 14,000 applicants, four final candidates were selected. The four, who proved their stage presence and star quality, entered HYBE-Geffen Records' training camp in Los Angeles, U.S., and began final preparations for their debut.
In episode 6 of HYBE-Geffen Records' audition program "World Scout: The Final Piece," which aired on Japan's OTT platform Abema (ABEMA) on the 31st of last month, the four final candidates were confirmed. The protagonists were Hiori (18), Ayana (18), Sakura (15) and Aoi (19). Hiori was recognized for noticeable growth with each round, and Aoi left a strong impression with an instantly captivating stage presence. Ayana made a noticeable leap by overcoming her own limits. Sakura received high marks for her rapid development and innate star quality.
Now they must mesh with the preselected debut group members Emily Kelavos, Lexie Levin and Samara Siqueira to show near-perfect teamwork. The three who appeared at the training camp performed the new songs "PARTY b4 the PARTY" and "WE RIDE," and announced that only two of the four would join them as teammates for the finale performance. Emily, Lexie and Samara offered warm encouragement, saying, "Whoever passes, we are all in a special relationship. We experienced auditions too, so we know how hard it is. Lean on us anytime you need help."
Participants could not hide their excitement about Emily, Lexie and Samara, saying, "Their aura was incredible. My heart races just thinking I could become one (a team) with them." But they could not let down their guard. One of the judges, producer In Jeong-hyun of HYBE-Geffen Records, emphasized, "You must not be complacent with the growth you have shown so far. If you become complacent, it means you cannot debut," and warned of harsher training and intense survival competition.
A world-class coaching team joined the U.S. training camp. Choreographers Nikki Paramo and MAASA, who have worked with Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Beyonce, guided the performance. KATSEYE's vocal coach Lauren Reial participated in vocal training. The coaching staff advised them, "Do not set limits on yourself and approach every moment earnestly."
Meanwhile, "World Scout: The Final Piece" has maintained the No. 1 spot in Abema's "K-pop program ranking" since its first broadcast on Feb. 24, drawing intense interest. It is encouraging that the program's buzz (number of mentions) and viewer inflow have steadily increased as episodes continued. The 12-episode "World Spa" airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Abema. < [Photo]
Screenshots from episode 6 of "World Scout: The Final Piece" / Photo courtesy of Abema (ABEMA)
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