The idea of people landing high-status roles in an industry because of their family background is nothing new. Most audiences recognise it when they see it. While some cases may be justified, many netizens are quick to dismiss a star’s talent if they come from privilege, regardless of how much effort that star has actually put in.
Annie (애니), a member of the rising K-pop group ALLDAY PROJECT (올데이프로젝트), is one example. Being the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairwoman Lee Myung Hee (이명희), her debut under the prominent label THEBLACKLABEL (더블랙레이블) has sparked constant discussion online. Many critics argue she earned her spot not through skill or hard work, but because of her family status and striking visuals.
During her latest appearance on the show “Salon Drip 2” on the 5th August (Tuesday), the rapper went into detail about her journey leading up to her debut. She shared that she had been training for four years, most of it remotely. “I took classes online, filmed evaluation videos every week, and sent them in for feedback. Whenever I came back to Korea during breaks, I’d go to the company like it was my full-time job,” she shared.
She also revealed that she had personally auditioned for THEBLACKLABEL rather than being scouted by the company, emphasising that her debut wasn’t handed to her and that she earned it through her own efforts. This self-driven approach highlights the determination and commitment she maintained throughout her trainee years.
Annie also talked about how close she and her groupmates are. She often invites them to her house so they can practice choreography together, sometimes staying up as late as midnight. She shared this behind-the-scenes detail to give fans a glimpse of the effort they put in as a team outside their official schedules.
Interestingly, ALLDAY PROJECT has faced controversy since their debut, and netizens have even dubbed them “Chaebol idols” because of their perceived privilege and connections. Despite this, the members seem largely unfazed by the noise. Rather than engaging with online speculation, they stay focused on proving themselves through their performances and hard work.
Here is the full episode of “Salon Drip 2”, or skip to 24:21 to Annie addressing the claims:
Zaima Humaira contributed to this article
