As the K-media revealed more pages from HYBE's internal report sabotaging other artists, netizens were shocked to know what really happened to Youngseo, a trainee who suddenly left ILLIT before its official debut.
Based on the additional documents retrieved from HYBE during the national assembly, "R U Next?" winner Youngseo might have left the group due to the company's ploy against her to make ILLIT stand out in the music market.
In the "online materials" analyzed by HYBE employees for their viral marketing strategies, it was explicitly implied that they plan to use Youngseo and paint her image negatively to attract buzz.
"Youngseo stands out among the members, so if we frame her image as a 'lazy cat' who acts like a queen while the others are framed like country dogs around her, we can surely beat groups like NMIXX."
The strategy also involved assigning certain breeds of dogs to each member to appeal to women and teen audiences.
Prior to ILLIT's official launch, Youngseo was the most popular member due to her visuals and top-notch idol skills. HYBE suggested using this and assigning her as the group's center to make her look like the "mean girl" who always overshadows the other members.
ima cry, she left because she didn’t want her to be seen as the mean girl to the idol industry, she has so much integrity and grace omfg, i love you sm youngseo, she put her morals above her life long dream :(
— saeed ^ྀི (@fairywhoreee) October 27, 2024
i hope you get to fulfill
your dream ml#ILOVEYOUYOUNGSEO #YOUNGSEO pic.twitter.com/0r65eVtA0F
seeing how hybe talked about youngseo and illit as if they were animals i’m 100% sure hybe did something to youngseo for her to leave cause she would’ve never left her friends and quit her dream after training for 5 years. my nyangseo :( pic.twitter.com/YURGCElC2q
— nira (@nikiseom) October 26, 2024
this is insane.. there's no way HYBE didn't kick out youngseo from illit pic.twitter.com/oOhc9IpGhQ
— ☘︎ (@nwjnsbts) October 26, 2024
@blinkystar_ WHAT’S WRONG WITH HYBE AGGHHHHHH #hybe #illit #kpop #fyp
♬ original sound - Black Hole Trap
READ ALSO: ILLIT Youngseo Vanishing Act Sparks Outrage —'it's almost been a month since..'
In March, ILLIT debuted under Belift Lab but before that, Youngseo announced her departure without a clear explanation in January.
With the recent internal report, GLITTs (fandom) are claiming that the trainee most likely didn't agree with this strategy and treasured her relationship with the members until the very last.
While some fans are disgusted by HYBE's plan, some fans state that it became a blessing to Youngseo, as she was freed from the "evil" company and didn't have to suffer from their poor management & mistreatment.
RELATED ARTICLE: ILLIT Youngseo Departs from Group, Agency Amid Debut Preparations — Here's What Happened to 'R U Next?' Contestant
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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
