Recently, Lean Brand Entertainment introduced the members of their upcoming girl group, KIIRAS (키라스), which includes Malaysian member Ling Ling (黄羚棱/링링). Of all the members, her introduction stood out for featuring a quote in multiple languages, including Malay: “Pentas yang aku rindukan. Kini, aku mulakan semula”, which translates to “The stage I’ve longed for. Now, I begin again.”
On Sunday (4th May), the group’s official Instagram page shared new images of Ling Ling to announce her official position as the group’s leader. This makes the soon-to-debut idol the first-ever Malaysian to hold the position in a K-pop group.
For those unfamiliar with the world of K-pop, most idol groups assign specific roles to each member, such as leader, main vocalist, main dancer, main rapper, and visual. In terms of the leader position, some members are chosen by their groupmates, while others are appointed by their agency. While it is not yet known how Ling Ling earned her position, it is confirmed that the KIIRAS member is the first Malaysian to become the leader of a K-pop group.
Following the official announcement, fans, particularly those from Malaysia, congratulated the young star on her historic achievement. Many responded to the post, expressing their excitement for Ling Ling and her group’s upcoming debut. Others pointed out that she has already made history by becoming the first Malaysian female K-pop idol, even before officially debuting.
With two historic achievements already under her belt, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ling Ling and her group, KIIRAS, go on to dominate the K-pop charts, or at the very least, win the hearts of Malaysian fans. A concert in the leader’s home country seems like a strong possibility in the future, don’t you think? Will you be supporting KIIRAS?
