According to additional documents retrieved from HYBE during the national assembly, “R U Next?” winner Youngseo may have left the group due to an internal strategy aimed at making ILLIT stand out in the competitive music market. The report revealed a deliberate scheme by HYBE to tarnish Youngseo’s image in a bid to generate controversy and buzz around the group’s debut.
In “online materials” analyzed by HYBE staff for viral marketing strategies, it was explicitly suggested that Youngseo could be framed negatively to attract attention. “Youngseo stands out among the members, so if we frame her as a ‘lazy cat’ who acts like a queen while the others are portrayed like humble country dogs, we can surely surpass groups like NMIXX,” the documents stated.
The plan went further by assigning each ILLIT member a specific dog breed to appeal to women and teenage audiences, aiming to create a distinctive image for the group. Before ILLIT’s official launch, Youngseo had been the most popular member, thanks to her visuals and exceptional idol skills. HYBE’s strategy proposed using her as the group’s center, portraying her as the “mean girl” who overshadowed the others.
The revelations have sparked outrage among fans and netizens, raising serious concerns about HYBE’s methods and its treatment of trainees.
Meanwhile, just before ILLIT’s debut earlier this year, BELIFT LAB announced YoungSeo’s departure.
“ILLIT will debut as a five-member group. After in-depth discussions regarding future activities, BELIFT LAB and YOUNGSEO have mutually agreed to terminate the exclusive contract.
This joint decision was made after careful consideration, respecting the artist’s wishes. The company requests that there be no unreasonable speculation or misunderstandings.”
