In any survival show auditions, a few of the best quickly catch attention and are often seen as contenders for the final lineup.
Unfortunately, reality shows are full of unpredictability, as promising “wasted trainees” find themselves let loose despite their excellent skills.
From Lee Si An to Fuko to Sihun, here are eight idol trainees from survival shows that fans believe should have debuted:
Kim Jong Hyeon – Mnet S2’s “Produce 101”.
Before joining the survival show in 2017, Kim Jong Hyeon was already popular as NU’EST’s JR, which debuted in 2012. The boy group had modest success, but it wasn’t until he joined “Produce 101” that his fame skyrocketed.
At the time, viewers were certain it would debut as WANNA ONE, but, surprisingly, it only ranked 14th.
In 2019, it was revealed that the show was rigged, leading to suggestions among fans that she was one of the victims.
Lee Kaeun – Mnet’s “Produce 48”.
READ ALSO: Lee Kaeun talks about her feelings about being a victim of IZ*ONE’s rigged lineup https
“Produce 48”, the third installment of the popular “Produce” series, was a collaboration between Japanese idol groups AKB48, SKE48 and others.
Among the sea of hopefuls, Lee Kaeun, former member of girl group After School, has become one of the most popular trainees as she quickly captivated fans with her stunning visuals and skills.
However, her journey took a heartbreaking turn when she also fell victim to the show’s vote manipulation. After securing fifth place, she incredibly dropped to number 14, dashing her dreams of debuting in IZ*ONE.
Lee Si An – Mnet’s “Idol School”, “Produce 48”
Aside from Lee Kaeun, Lee Si An also broke fans’ hearts when she was eliminated from the same show. During her time on “Produce 48”, she was praised for her leadership, beauty and voice. Unfortunately, she placed 30th and said goodbye in episode 11.
In 2017, she joined Mnet’s “Idol School” where she also showcased her skills. She almost joined the lineup, but was let go during the final elimination after placing 16th.
Now, Si An is once again attracting attention as one of the participants in the Netflix reality show, “Single’s Inferno 4.”
Lee Jinhyuk – Mnet S4’s “Produce x 101”.
Finishing in the dreaded “curse of 14th place”, Lee Jinhyuk failed to debut in X1.
In the show, Jinhyuk showed exemplary leadership and skills, but was kicked out of the program due to rigged grades.
The fourth season marked the end of the “Produce” franchise, while X1 disbanded in less than a year as the group was plagued by the vote-rigging scandal.
Currently, Jinhyuk is the main rapper of the boy group UP10TION.
Kawaguchi Yurina – Mnet’s “Girls Planet 999”.
After the cancellation of “Produce”, Mnet launched another survival show, the series “Planet”.
In season 1, Yurina gained attention for ranking first in 83 countries during the initial elimination battle.
But just like déjà vu, its ranking plummeted to 14th place, making it unable to join Kep1er.
Terazono Keita – “Boys Planet” by Mnet S2
Although Keita has consolidated his career as a member of Ciipher and Evnne, his missed opportunity to debut in ZEROBASEONE saddened fans.
During the competition, Keita was a crowd favorite and consistently secured a place in the Top 9. However, he fell short in the finale when he placed 12th, leaving fans disappointed.
Kim Sihun – JTBC’s “Project 7”.
“Project 7,” a collaboration show between Studio SLL and Studio Slam that ran from October to December 2024, was looking for seven talented idols who will complete the boy group CLOSE YOUR EYES (CYE).
Among the contestants, Sihun stood out with his impressive all-round skills and seemed destined for the final lineup. However, this did not materialize after he placed 8th, just one place away from realizing his dream.
Hayashi Fuko – Mnet’s “I-LAND 2”.
Among the “I-LAND 2” trainees who failed to join IZNA’s debut, Fuko was the most mentioned for her strong vocal skills and undeniable stage presence.
Despite her talent, the producers left her out of the final lineup, leaving her fans dismayed.
Duan Xing Xing – SBS’ “Starlight Boys”.
Duan Xing Xing, the latest “wasted trainee”, left fans in tears after missing out on the chance to join the highly anticipated group POLARIX.
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