On October 28, Wednesday, SM Entertainment formally announced Ningning as the third member of their upcoming girl group, Aespa. However, due to the tensions between China and South Korea, Korean netizens expressed divided opinions over her addition to the group due to her being Chinese.
Read more about it here.
Ningning, whose real name is Ning Yizhuo, shocked fans with surprising glow-up. In 2016, she was named as a member of SM Rookies and gained many fans internationally for her cute and innocent visuals. In the past, her hair was dyed orange, making her look even purer and child-like.
Now, however, Ningning boasts a luxurious visual. Her hair has been dyed black and she wears fancy, sparkling makeup that enhances her naturally large eyes. The teaser is donned with shades of pink, purple, and blue, playing off the group's unique concept.
While international fans were excited to see Ningning finally debuting after more than four years of training, Korean netizens are less than thrilled. Currently, tensions between South Korea and China are at an all-time high. With that, people have expressed how much they hate Chinese idols. They have also claimed that SM Entertainment can't seem to stop debuting Chinese talents and that they hate seeing so many of them in the industry.
Read some comments here:
"Wait, one more Chinese idol? Oh my God."
"Is she the main vocalist?? I am a bit worried because she is Chinese... Is her pronunciation even good?"
"She is pretty, but let's be honest, she is Chinese, so it is slightly worrying."
"I wonder how long she will stay in the group."
Others, however, complimented Ningning. Many claimed that Ningning suited the concept the best and that her visuals are like a mix of BLACKPINK's Jennie and Red Velvet's Joy.
Read their comments here:
"Something about her looks like Jennie."
"Just looking at her teasers, I feel like she looks like Joy + Jennie."
"Ningning fits the concept best."
"She is pretty, I think she will be the visual member."
Ningning has had netizens' attention even before it was announced she would be a member of the group. Following news of a national petition being pitched to prevent certain Chinese idols from actively promoting in Korea, numerous Korean netizens had hoped that Ningning would not be included in the group because she is Chinese. At the time, it was highly speculated that Ningning was going to be included in the line-up of Aespa, but it was not yet confirmed.
It was highly speculated that if she were to join the group, she was most likely to be the main vocalist of the group. This is because, during her time in SM Rookies, she was in charge of all the high notes and difficult parts of their covers. She also competed on a vocal show in China called 'Let's Sing Kids', where she proved her vocal ability despite her lack of training during the time.
However, many Korean netizens spoke up against her being the main vocalist. They claim that a Chinese idol should not be the main vocalist, just in case they decide to ditch their career in South Korea to pursue fame in their home country. Others doubted her ability and her Korean skills.
Aespa will debut in November 2020. Later today, SM Entertainment will be announcing the last member of the group. Are you excited for Aespa and for Ningning?
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Written by Alexa L.
