Former star of Mnet’s Produce 101 Season 1 are attracting public attention for their dramatically different life paths. Nearly 10 years after the show aired, some have returned to the spotlight through glamorous reunions, while others have stepped away from entertainment to embrace a normal life.
On June 16, Kwon Eun Bin shared a long post on his personal account, officially announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry.
After obtaining recognition Produce 101 Season 1Kwon Eun Bin did not make the final debut lineup, but later returned to the group CLC and continued her career as a singer. After the group disbanded in 2022, she transitioned into acting, appearing in dramas such as Bad dad AND Dear.M.
However, he revealed that he has decided to end his 10-year entertainment career and pursue the life of an ordinary person. Having entered the industry as a teenager, she explained that concerns about her future gradually deepened, eventually leading her to choose a different path.
Reflecting on her years in showbiz, Kwon Eun Bin candidly shared: “Rather than having passion and love for my work, most of my time was spent struggling with emptiness and anxiety about the present and future. I wasted precious time on meaningless experiences that brought me no benefit and in relationships with no real substance.”
In the meantime, updates on colleagues Produce 101 Season 1 Alumnus Jung Eun Woo has also recently attracted attention.
After the survival program, Jung Eun Woo debuted with the girl group PRISTIN, but the group disbanded after only about two years. Since leaving entertainment, she has started a new chapter as a consulting manager at a plastic surgery clinic.
Speaking openly on his own, Jung Eun Woo said: “To make a living, you have to do something. So I decided to become a manager at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam. It’s probably easier than becoming a successful idol.” His realistic yet confident outlook has earned praise and support from netizens.
Appearing on YouTube channel 1ma2c on June 13, she also firmly ruled out a return to entertainment. “I have no lingering attachment to the industry. Singing is better when I’m alone in the bathroom,” he joked, adding, “Now I’m focused on living my second life, so I have no regrets.”
The two former contestants’ contrasting updates drew even more attention because they were partners Produce 101 the IOI group recently had a successful meeting.
In May, IOI reunited after nearly nine years, releasing their third mini album IOI: LOOP and the title track Suddenly. The comeback quickly reached the top of the music charts, demonstrating the group’s enduring popularity and devoted fandom.
Jung Eun Woo also admitted that he felt bittersweet after watching the reunion. “Seeing my friends reunite after 10 years makes me feel a little sad,” he said, although he stressed that he had no regrets about his life choices.
Ten years after chasing the same dream as the trainees, these former contestants are now living completely different lives.
As Kwon Eun Bin and Jung Eun Woo step away from celebrity life to build new careers outside of entertainment, netizens have shown support, commenting, “It can’t be easy for former celebrities to start completely different jobs,” AND “We sincerely support the next chapter of their lives.”
Sources: Daum
