(Photo : Rakuten Viki / Mnet)
Mnet's "I-Land" is an observation type reality program by BELIF+, a joint project of CJ ENM and BigHit Labels. The show aims to follow the creation of a new boy group, every step of the way. The 9th episode of the reality program was recently on air, which revealed the top 11 I-Landers contesting for a chance to debut. Let's take a look at these charming and hard-working boys before the final ten are announced next week!
11. JAY
Previously a BigHit trainee, Jay is known for his incredible dance skills among the I-Landers. Despite some issues with his confidence during the first part of the show's run, he coped with it soon enough in order to advance succesfully to Part 2 and eventually made it to the Top 11, securing the 11th spot. He assumes the position of rapper and dancer during stage performances and is full of excitement and energy, even referring to his personality as that of a puppy. Jay wanted to become a trainee because when the going got tough, he found solace and happiness in music and performing. The Kpopstarz team wish Jay the best for the rest of his journey!
10. NI-KI
(Photo : Mnet)
RELATED: Here Are 3 Things Bang Si Hyuk Requires for "I-LAND" Participants to Debut
Despite being young, Ni-Ki has had a successful career in dance as the back-up dancer for K-Pop legends SHINee. He's looked to as one of the top dancers in I-Land, and other contestants look up to him for support and help with choreography. Again, despite initial issues with stability and performance as well as problems with poor teamwork, Ni-Ki is coping well and has landed the 10th spot with the help of global votes. We hope he continues to show us his best sides!
9. K
One of the strongest all rounders among the I-Landers, K is a force to be reckoned with. K often takes on roles of responsibility and leadership and never hesitates to speak on what's on his mind. He's confident enough to call anyone out on their mistakes and empathetic enough to put the team before individual endeavours. Despite some calling him strict or too harsh, K is simply honest and it has left a lasting impression on the Producers as well as the audience. We hope to see more of him soon!
8. HAN BIN
Hanbin was previously a member, founder and the leader of the Vietnamese dance crew C.A.C and is known in the show for his dance skills. Besides being an amazing dancer, he is also incredibly smart and has studied Marketing from Hanoi University of Commerce. Who doesn't love someone with talent, good looks and intelligence? Besides, he's also a cat person with an Instagram account dedicated to cats! We can't wait to get to know more about him!
7. DANIEL
Daniel may be the youngest member on I-Land but he is by no means any lesser than the other I-Landers. He's skilled in dancing and vocals as well as rapping which makes him an all rounder as well. Daniel's idol is BLOCK B's Zico and he dreams of one day being able to top the Billboard charts and live in Paris. We would love to see all his dreams come true!
6. JUNGWON
With full support from his family, Jungwon decided to become a trainee and fulfill his dreams of becoming a musician that creates the music that he wants to. His role model is BTS Jungkook and he hopes to be able to perform as powerfully as him someday. Even though he struggled a little with his dance, it wasn't long before he became an efficient team member with the rest of the I-Landers. We are eager to see his progress, especially since he landed the 6th position!
5. JAKE
Having hailed all the way from Australia, the I-Land journey was proving a little difficult for Jake at the beginning of Part 1. However, with his skill and talent, he was soon able to help his team members who looked up to him for support. Jake is the very definition of "slow and steady wins the race' as he has effectively proved himself by securing the 5th spot in global votes as well as the 1st place after the Chemistry Test from the Producers. As a result, he stands to double his votes received in the last 24 hours of global voting which may prove to be especially important as the finale approaches. We wish Jake all the best!
4. TA KI
Standing out for his impeccable charm that even makes the producers fall for him, Taki absolutely floored the competition during the freestyle dance challenge, making him one of the team leaders. Even though his individual performance was not up to the mark, belonging in the winning team allowed him to stay safe. Fans are thankful that he gets to stay in the competition because his talent really is unmatched. We would love to see him go forward in the competition!
3. SUNGHOON
Coming from a background of competitive ice skating gave Sunghoon an edge over the other I-Landers when it came to grace, posture and the ability to pick up choreography quickly. He has been competing in national and international competitions but started dreaming of becoming an idol after watchng BTS in concert. The next logical step for Sunghoon was to make it happen and his progress is visible, sitting smug in the 3rd position. We can't wait to see what's next for Sunghoon!
2. HEE SEUNG
Heeseung was a BigHit trainee and pretty close to the members of TXT. As TXT debuted before he could, having trained for the same amount of time together, Heeseung has a fire within him. He served as the centre for most of the stages in I-Land and is hugely respected by the other I-Landers. They easily deem him as being the best contestant and look up to him as he is trained in vocals, rap as well as dance. A triple threat, Heeseung now holds the 2nd position. We hope to see him in the finals!
1. SUNOO
Proudly holding the 1st position is Sunoo, a talented vocalist and dancer with unique charms. On the episode with BTS, it was revealed that Sunoo had been suffering from health issues since he was a child and still faces problems as he had to undergo a difficult surgery. However, he doesn;t give up and is careful not to be a burden to his team members even though they understand his troubles. His bright and energetic nature outshines his pain and Sunoo is able to capture hearts worldwide. We wish all the best for Sunoo and hope to see him debut!
