7 Kpop Bands You Didn't Know Came From Survival Shows
I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*ONE and X1. What do these bands have in common? They were all created from the grueling survival shows Produce 101, Produce 101 Season 2, Produce 48, and Produce X 101 respectively.
These shows pitted 101 trainees against each other to fight for the final 11 (or in Produce 48's case, 12) places for debut. Each trainee had a less than 10% chance to make it.
While these bands may be well-known graduates of survival shows, here are seven other bands that you may not have known are survival show graduates too!
fromis_9
The girls of fromis_9 were formed through the show Idol School that aired in July 2017.
Idol School is similar to the Produce 101 series, but with the biggest difference being that the "trainees" on the show were not actual trainees but regular people who would "go to school" to learn how to be an idol. The resultant band fromis_9 consists of members Saerom, Hayoung, Gyuri, Jiwon, Jisun, Seoyeon, Chaeyoung, Nagyung, and Jiheon debuted with To Heart on 24 January 2018.
Image Credit: reddit.com
TWICE
The girls from TWICE were formed through the show SIXTEEN that aired in May 2015.
TWICE may be one of the biggest girl groups now, but did you know that they were formed through a survival show? There were sixteen trainees on the show (hence its name) and only nine would make it to the final lineup. In the end, Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu made it into the final lineup of TWICE, debuted with Like OOH-AHH on 20 October 2015.
Image Credit: Soompi
VIXX
The boys from VIXX were formed through the show MyDOL that aired in April 2012.
During the height of Kpop in the early 2010s, Jellyfish Entertainment, an entertainment agency known for its ballad singers decided to debut an idol band through the reality show MyDOL. The first half of the show narrowed down the trainees into the debut lineup, and the second half showed the final members preparing for their debut. Ten trainees were narrowed down to six in the final lineup. Ultimately, N, Leo, Ken, Ravi, Hongbin, and Hyuk made it into VIXX and debuted with Superhero on 24 May 2012.
Image Credit: WhatThe Kpop
Stray Kids
The boys of Stray Kids were formed through the show Stray Kids that aired in October 2017.
Stray Kids took on a different concept of survival shows. Instead of trainees being pitted against each other to fight to the top, the group of trainees intended for debut were already selected and were instead made to prove to their entertainment agency (JYP Entertainment) that they were ready for debut. Fortunately, Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, I.N, and former member Woojin debuted in Stray Kids with District 9 on 25 March 2018.
Image Credit: JYP Entertainment
Enhyphen
The boys of Enhyphen were formed through the show I-LAND that aired in June 2020.
Arguably one of the most well-known survival show graduates on this list, the boys of Enhyphen were formed through survival show I-LAND organised by Belift Lab, which is a joint venture between CJ E&M and Hybe Corporation. In part 1 of the show, the top 12 trainees were to live on I-LAND, while the rest would live on the Ground. At the end of part 1, all trainees on the Ground would be eliminated and the trainees on I-LAND would fight to be the final seven to debut. In the end, Jungwon, Heesung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Niki made it into Enhyphen, debuting with Given-Taken on 30 November 2020.
Image Credit: Bandwagon.asia
Momoland
The girls of Momoland were formed through the show Finding Momoland that aired in July 2016.
Finding Momoland is similar to SIXTEEN in that 10 trainees had to fight for the final seven spots that would make up MLD Entertainment's newest girl group Momoland. Through various missions that prove their star power, the trainees were slowly eliminated before finalising the official lineup. Members Hyebin, Jane, Nayun, JooE, Ahin, and Nancy alongisde former member Yeonwoo debuted with JJan! Koong! Kwang! on 10 November 2016.
Image Credit: Momoland
Monsta X
The boys of Monsta X were formed through the show NO.MERCY that aired in December 2014.
The Kpop industry is demanding and harsh with no room for error. Trainees start at a young age and are mercilessly pitted against each other to ascend to the top. The name NO.MERCY is accurate in showcasing how Kpop band Monsta X was formed. 13 members were whittled down into the final eight that would make it to the band. Ultimately, Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, I.M., and former member Wonho debuted with Trespass on 14 May 2015.
Image Credit: Readdork.com
Whether broadcasted or not, it's without a doubt that trainees work extremely hard for a chance at debut. Even after debut, they are constantly competing against other bands to make it to the top.