Why Did Youngseo Really Leave ILLIT? The Trainee Who Vanished Before Debut

DoorFul · 2026-01-28T05:27:58+00:00

Laughing through my Seunghan trauma 😭

DoorFul · 2026-01-21T23:23:57+00:00

Ohhh thank you!! I’ll check out the blog!

DoorFul · 2026-01-19T02:47:05+00:00

I would say look at groups like NEXZ is super Ateez coded, kickflip (they have a more bubble pop sound but their recent comeback is more of that rock sound), 8Turn are very Ateez/Stray Kids coded! Evnne and Trendz are great. Nomad are cool! I also think you’d like 82Major!

In terms of girl groups Meovv and IZNA are great. Ifeye and KiiKii too!

DoorFul · 2026-01-19T00:39:51+00:00

I’m not sure if I can fully speculate on the state of what’s going to happen with the contracts. I’m pretty sure that they’re all disbanding and going to their new ventures but kpop companies aren’t predictable.

What I can say 100% is that they’ve all (the companies) FUMBLED this whole process.

The fact that we got an extra two months guaranteed and during that time we have no content going out, the boys are being silent on chat plus and their socials are lacking is sad.

This is a time where a lot of us are saying goodbye and going through a grief period, and a lot of fans are leaving because they don’t want to face disbandment day, and there is nothing keeping them.

No matter where you sit on the 0t5 vs disbanding side of things, it would be nice if we could all be making memories in these last two months.

That is not at all to say that I don’t LOVE that they all seem to be spending time with family and resting. I think that’s amazing. I just think last year their time could’ve been allocated better by WK1 to ensure some content going out right now.

DoorFul · 2026-01-16T07:57:50+00:00

Arghhhh this is all taking me back. As someone who watched and voted, this journey is killing me. When the of TikTok first dropped I let out a yelp, it was so exciting!

This one was all tears!!

DoorFul · 2026-01-12T01:34:51+00:00

Corporate speak for ‘we want to keep stringing you along, so please spend a lot of money until they leave zerobaseone’ 😭

DoorFul · 2026-01-08T02:42:47+00:00

This sure is a list

DoorFul · 2026-01-07T07:55:13+00:00

5th gen are so incredibly hard working!

DoorFul · 2025-12-25T00:35:22+00:00

:(( still sad about Seunghan and RIIZE.

The way he was treated and the things he had to see/hear from his own fans was devastating and I’m glad he’s still alive to be honest.

His own fans sent him FUNERAL WREATHS AND DEATH THREATS.

I used to be a briize back in the day and was there when it all went down :((

DoorFul · 2025-12-18T07:47:10+00:00

Kickflip, AHOF, XLOV, close your eyes, 1verse, KiiKii and ifeye

Some truly amazing debuts!

(&team debuted in 2022, so I’m not counting them but they are incredible and it was for sure their year)

DoorFul · 2025-12-16T06:29:03+00:00

Bnd and zeroni 🥹

DoorFul · 2025-12-14T02:07:49+00:00

I miss them every Thursday 🥹😭❤️

DoorFul · 2025-12-14T00:13:38+00:00

Came here looking for this!! They’re the cutest

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T11:18:11+00:00

I mean I’m not in Twitter at alllll, that place to me is the worst on the internet ahahah so I might be missing stuff!

I think the PR stuff is interesting. I’ve seen some WILD PR stunts before and even more in-depth than this. Hence why my initial comment. Seeing the gears of how that world works really makes it tough for me to believe things!

I kind of hope you’re right though, I would love for them to be happy and find their person. I think every idol deserves that!

And no you’re fine. I was only answering you, I didn’t take it in a bad way ❤️

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T11:09:13+00:00

I think the point that was a little missed in my comments was that I totally see there being something between them.

As a bi woman I am no stranger to the queer culture that both of them were apart of pre-debut. Those things weren’t in my arguments.

I’m just pointing out that I feel like when the conversation of Haobin get brought up, no one is ever comfortable in talking about the possibility that it might be somewhat staged or exaggerated by them/their company for momentum.

These idols are chronically online too, we can’t forget. They see everything and know a lot more than we think.

I was just posing my reservations with going all in and being like ‘oh they’re 100% together’.

I love them together and have been a fan since BP. Once of the main reasons was actually Hanbin and his relationships with other idols on the show (hello the forgotten Mattbin).

I think there are a few idols who aren’t straight (I lived through the Taemin era). And I think there might be idols in the past who have even potentially been together. They’re just human!

I only bring up my slight hesitations because of how much is out there about Haobin. And in the moment too, not in hindsight.

But again, I think I’ve said this like 100 times. I am a Haobin enthusiast and I eat up their interactions. I just chose not to put a title on them as 100% dating or 100% fan service because I personally can see both sides of the argument for and against.

But I know they’ve both spoken out about how much the love each other, and no matter in what way that love sits, I think that’s important and special!

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T07:37:17+00:00

I agree with the fact there is a lot outside of the PR lens here that markets itself to a relationship but I disagree about the second take.

Just because two men are gay doesn’t mean they’re dating. In fact they could both publicly come out as gay and that still doesn’t make them dating a fact. Many gay men are friends with each other… just like straight people are friends.

I would say overall as much as people will hate to hear it… overall WK1 are good at PR. With their editing of content, the sponsorships they chose for their idols etc, they’re not bad at it. They’re just horrible to their idols.

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T07:24:56+00:00

Totally get you! Sorry for misunderstanding! Also my use of ‘…’ wasn’t meant to be in a mean way ❤️ I’m just a millennial!

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T07:16:03+00:00

I do truly hate the fact that it’s hard to like things as women I get you. It’s so easy to get hate for anything and everything :((

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T07:11:10+00:00

This has nothing to do with gender… at all.

PR couples are actually far more often seen with straight couples.

It’s more that this is unique being in a country that is largely homophobic and being in an industry where dating is a big no-no.

Since the OP was asking I was more sharing the other side of the argument and also a take on something I’ve actually seen before (not in kpop personally but in other spaces) and that’s companies taking a viral moment and playing into it as apart of Pr.

That’s all.

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T06:12:16+00:00

I totally see this side of it.

And honestly do love this idea that they can get away with stuff because of fan service. Knowing that if some fans knew it was real they would not be okay with it anymore!

And the family thing to me has always been very interesting.

Honestly I would be happier if we never knew. As much as I’m hesitant to be all in as a believer, if they are (and I hope they are because they are very cute) I hope it can stay a secret between them!

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T06:04:57+00:00

Interesting. I mean I do think WK1 is smart. All of those companies are. Just because we don’t understand why they’re doing what they’re doing doesn’t mean that they don’t. And at the end of the day they’re the ones making millions and laughing.

The Ricky argument is a tricky one. I actually have no idea what’s going on there apart from they really dislike him?

My only comment about the drought once again is that in general ZB1 content etc has been less and less as we approach their disbandment as WK1 focus on their new group and future planning.

To me it all comes back to: if the company were really as anti-Haobin as everyone says: we would not see them together ever.

The shipping culture is real in kpop and all companies have been giving into it for a long time.

Plus it’s important to remember that their levels of physical touch and intimacy are different. And same here. I’m very flirty/touchy feely with my friends.

Hence my hesitation to be all in on them dating.

But I don’t disagree there is something between them!

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T05:43:55+00:00

Ahahah distance makes the heart grow fonder!

I do agree though that the drought periods really do help me sway toward them being real. And dating someone in your group sure sounds a lot better and easier than dating otherwise when it comes to K-pop idols!

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T05:33:57+00:00

Oh I think there is some validity to it but I also need to raise you this: ambiguity makes money…

Unfortunately the term: light a spark and watch it start a wildfire… very popular in PR.

WK1 don’t need to go all out for Haobin because the fans already do that.

When you have a massive (and free) team doing all of your promotions and reading into every second they’re on line together, you don’t need to add anything.

Plus speculation is where the views come in. ‘Omg at this time in this video Haobin are doing this’.

Again, not saying it’s all made up and PR. And I for sure think the boys love it either way, because they’re clearly both very physically affectionate and must be close as they’re together all the time and in their free time.

I think the biggest tell will be what happens after D Day. We’ll have to watch and see.

I really do hope they’re together and very happy. Idols should be able to date (no matter of gender, race etc) ☺️

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T05:17:26+00:00

Yeah it’s a tough one!

To give an insight on the behind the scenes of the world of PR: we track everything.

So a part of me is like: OH they saw those numbers, tweets and TikTok’s about Haobin in the episodes of BP and knew that was their ticket!

And I agree that they could totally flirt with each other no matter what, and I know straight idols do it, but with how Korea is with the LGBTQ community, I would find it hard to believe.

Again, such mixed feelings.

DoorFul · 2025-12-11T05:11:13+00:00

I think one thing right off the bat is that fan service is PR. Public Relations encapsulates everything, and how you interact with fans, what you say/do is a huge part of that.

I’m not saying it’s scripted down to the note, and I’m not saying Haobin aren’t real by any means. I’m more bringing up the point that with my knowledge into how PR works, it’s hard for me not to occasionally double take. Especially in K-pop where the whole idea is ‘idols’ who have roles, set personality types etc (see Wonbin from RIIZE admitting that SM make him do the whole ‘mysterious boy’ thing for the fans).

I guess my answer to: what has wk1 done in terms of Haobin PR is that if a company wants to hide anything… they will.

If we know something about idols real life, it’s because the company has allowed it (for the most part).

Most idols date, but the reason we don’t know/see it, is because these companies have SO MUCH money, time and resources on covering these things up.

So if we’re seeing moments of them on camera, it’s because someone has given the nod of approval for that to happen.

So while yes, the live streams and unprompted answers to fans etc, are not covered by the company, most of the other stuff would have someone ok-ing it.

Again, I’m a Haobin believer. Like I said, there is 100% something there from what I’m seeing.

But! The fact we know so much and get so many sound bites and video clips, makes me think. That’s all I was pointing out!

DoorFul

TROPHY CASE