In the K-pop industry, various nicknames are given to idols that can be based on their singing and dancing skills, cuteness, visuals, and others. One of the most common monikers is "secret weapon"- which is given to individuals with exceptional talent, and their debuts are considered to be a deadly weapon of their agencies released into the entertainment world.
Here are five of the K-pop idols who are deemed as the "secret weapon" of their companies.
5 K-pop Idols Who Were Dubbed as "Secret Weapons" Before Debut
BTS V
First, we have BTS V. The "Blue & Grey" singer joined Big Hit Entertainment (now called Big Hit Music) in 2011 but he remained a hidden member for two years, while the other six members already introduced themselves to the public through vlogs and social media in 2012. He was only revealed as a member 11 days before the group's debut in 2013.
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V had trained with all the other BTS members, hence, ARMYs wonder why Big Hit decided to hide him for a long time. Some speculate that it was to avoid other companies from scouting him away.
BLACKPINK Jennie
BLACKPINK Jennie is another K-pop idol known for being a "secret weapon", and it's because of her incredible skills in rapping, singing, and dancing. She was even known as "YG's mystery girl" after a photo of her was uploaded to YG Entertainment's blog in 2012 with no description. She immediately became a hot topic as many people started searching for who she was.
But unlike BTS V who was kept hidden, BLACKPINK Jennie was already introduced to the public before her debut. She has featured in songs by other YG artists such as G-Dragon and Lee Hi.
ITZY Yeji
Many fans already knew ITZY Yeji even before her debut as she appeared on the reality show "The Fan" in 2018. On the said show, before one of her performances, 2PM Junho introduced her as "JYP's secret weapon."
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Even though her performance didn't earn her victory, it caught the attention of many viewers, leading her to be the most-searched topic on Naver. Many fans have also since waited for her official debut.
aespa Winter
Another K-pop idol that earned the moniker "secret weapon" is aespa Winter. She caught people's attention before her debut when someone leaked photos of her online. Her beauty- which some compared to actress So Yoo Jin's- already had people anticipating her debut.
When aespa's debut was finally announced in 2020, Winter was the only member who didn't showcase her skills in the teasers, making her all the more mysterious. It was not until aespa's first stage performance did she get to demonstrate her singing and dancing skills.
Red Velvet Seulgi
The last artist on our list is Red Velvet Seulgi, who isn't just a main dancer of her group, but she excels in singing too. She even knows how to play a handful of musical instruments. All of these led fans to consider her one of SM Entertainment's secret weapons.
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But fans aren't the only ones who think that way, the magazine Star1 and variety show "Radio Star" also use this title for Seulgi.
Do you know other K-pop idols who were dubbed as "secret weapons" before their debut? If yes, share with us in the comment box below!
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Written by Maria Scott
