The days following the finale of Produce X 101 can be described most accurately by a strange state of ~limbo~. Fans still aren’t quite sure what to do with their Friday nights if not spent huddled over a stream of the latest episode.
It’s now turned to scrolling through Instagram or Twitter to catch up on the activities of their favorite trainees on the many accounts, official companies or otherwise, that have cropped up (if you look anywhere, MusicWorks trainee Song Yuvin has probably commented on their selfie or Instagram Live. He’s everywhere.)
But this announcement has shaken up stans of Produce X 101 for the best: Lee Hyeop, an independent trainee on Produce X 101 that made himself known for his diva-like vocal color, recently announced that he has joined Woollim Entertainment through this tweet:
안녕하세요. Woollim Rookie입니다.
프로듀스X101에서 좋은 모습을 보여준 이협군이 Woollim Rookie에 합류하게 되었습니다.
이협군의 새롭고 즐거운 소식은 Woollim Rookie에서 앞으로 보여드리겠습니다.
앞으로도 많은 응원 부탁드립니다.#woollim #울림 #이협 pic.twitter.com/J6H5vWTv7r — woollim_rookie (@Woollim_rookie) July 29, 2019
Extra points to Lee Hyeop for matching the blue of his shirt to the Woollim Entertainment logo! Several of the participants in Produce X 101 were independent trainees that lacked an agency, and thus had to gain popularity through their own talent, not backed by the prestige of a noteworthy company – Lee Hyeop was (emphasis on the was, the formerly!) one of these independent trainees. During the show, he made intense waves in the stan twitter community for his unique style of singing as featured in his Group Evaluation stage, a cover of Hwasa’s Twit:
And this glorious high note sequence during the Concept Evaluation stage, Monday to Sunday:
social experiment RT if you still remember how hyeop reached 5 octave notes in Monday to Sunday pic.twitter.com/Y62o0q2GEU — c X1 (@seokhwanderland) July 28, 2019
Stans weren’t the only people to pick up on his skills. After Produce X 101 ended, Lee Hyeop allegedly received several ‘lovecalls’ from companies, with his vocal trainer even posting messages they received from a Fantagio staff member.
[TRANS] So fantagio staff send message through lee hyeop teachers vocal, and ask him to greeting his messages to lee hyeop and say he want made same discuss with lee hyeop. Since the staff known lee hyeop as best trainer in produce x and he love lee hyeop voice. #이협 #LEEHYEOP pic.twitter.com/Rxk9u8cabl — 할990203 (@byurside023) July 24, 2019
As part of Woollim Entertainment’s Woollim Rookies lineup, Lee Hyeop joins fellow Produce X 101 participants Hwang Yunseong, Moon Junho, Joo Changwook, Kim Minseo, and Kim Dongyun, with X1 member Cha Junho set to join them after 2.5 years. With Hwang Yunseong as one of the strongest dancers from the season and Lee Hyeop as one of the strongest singers, this pre-debut group will be a rookie to watch out for at their debut.
