WEGIRLS is an upcoming Korean girl group under Aftermoon Entertainment. They recently gained attention with their debut album campaign on Makestar, which allowed the group’s fans to select the concept for their album as well as their leader and center.
The group will function as rotating units, the first of which will be debuting in April or May of this year. The five members of this first unit were interviewed for this article: HaL, Hyeni, and Yehana, who were featured in the Makestar campaign, and new members Cindy and E.you. Two other members of WEGIRLS will be debuting in the group’s second unit sometime in the future.
Hello everyone! WEGIRLS are known for its members’ individual colors, so with that in mind, please introduce yourselves and tell us an interesting fact you want us to know about you.
(HaL) Hello, I am WeGirls’ maknae, HaL. Now to introduce myself …hmm… Well first, I’ve never thought of myself as being 4D, but I feel like I can be very off-the-wall and curious. One time, during a broadcast, a fan asked me to show them my bowling form. You can’t use bowling balls inside, so instead I used a cup ramen and showed them. The fans laughed a lot and had a lot of fun because of it. Isn’t just the thought of it playful and silly?
(E.you) Hello~ I am WeGirls’ E.you~ Even though I’m the eldest, my members always protect me because I trigger their protective instincts.
(Cindy) Hello, I am WeGirls’ vocal, Cindy! I majored in practical music vocals during college. Ever since I was young, I’ve loved being on the stage. I also try to learn songwriting when I have the time. ^^
(Yehana) Hello. I am WeGirls’ Yehana. Together with Cindy, we are in charge of vocals. I majored in practical music vocals while studying music. Originally, when I was younger I liked rock music, so I thought I would be a rock band singer when I was older, but before I knew it, I was preparing to debut in a girl group. I want to work hard and do well as a girl group member, but at the same time, I want to discover my own musical style. So in the future, I want to become a deeper artist who can tell her own story. Becoming a singer-songwriter is my dream. ^^
(Hyeni) Hello, I am WeGirls’ always bright and healthy, jack-of-all-trades, Hyeni! I will always work hard to repay our fans for always supporting us and providing us with energy and happiness whenever we are down, tired, or sad. I am also the second eldest in the group.
You all have such different interests and hobbies. How did you each decide to start training to become idols?
(Hyeni) To be honest, I loved singing and dancing, so I knew I wanted to be an idol, but I wasn’t brave enough. But a good opportunity opened up and with the support of people who saw my talent, I mustered up enough courage to try it. Now, I’m a WeGirls member!
(Cindy) I’ve always been involved with music since I was young, so I never thought of another path. Since college, I prepared to become a singer. On the global platform, I was able to sing live and communicate with international fans, which is how I joined WeGirls. I am excited for the opportunity to talk to more fans in the future. ^^
(Yehana) At first, I didn’t think I’d want to be an idol. Originally, my company planned on debuting me as a solo singer. So I released a solo album under the name “Yehana” and was featured in a song by an artist called “House Rules”, who was also under our label. But all of a sudden, our CEO asked me if I wanted to try being in a girl group, so I agreed. I thought it would be a good opportunity and because it is a new challenge, I will keep working hard.
(HaL) I decided to become an idol because of the fans. On SNS, we have over ten thousand fans. Having them right next to us, supporting and waiting for us, is what made me who I am today. I’m proud of how much I cherish and love our fans. I sometimes get no sleep and stay awake all night messaging every one of them. That is why I believe I became an idol, because of the fans.
(E.you) Since I was young, I’ve tried many things like acting, modeling, and singing. But because of a friend’s recommendation, I was able to join WeGirls. ^^
Are you excited for your upcoming debut? What are you most looking forward to?
(HaL) I’m very very happy and excited! What I’m looking forward to the most is the WeGirls concert that will happen in the future. With our singing and dancing, we will try to make a lot of people laugh and be happy.
(E.you) I’m looking most forward to the concert. I feel like we will show off our individual charms well. I am also curious to see how our families will react haha.
(Yehana) Hmm… What I’m most excited about… We haven’t debuted yet, but we still have fans who are supporting us. I want to repay all those people for waiting with our debut stage. So what I’m most looking forward to are our fans’ smiling faces.
(Cindy) I’m looking forward to it so so much! I’m looking forward to showing everyone the results of all the hard work our members have put in. I’m also very happy that I get to meet my fans!
(Hyeni) What I’m looking forward to the most is definitely the fans’ reactions. Not just the fans, but the general public as well. Just the thought that the world will finally be able to see the results of all the hard work put in by not only the members, but also the staff that helps WeGirls, makes my heart pound.
Are you surprised by the attention your Makestar campaign has received?
(HaL) I was very surprised. We hadn’t even debuted yet, but still many people supported us. Also, through Makestar we were able to gain a lot of international fans. So many people sent us messages that we were very surprised at and thankful for the response. In the future, I hope to have an overseas concert for our international fans.
(Yehana) Yes. I wasn’t only surprised by the Korean fans, but also by how much interest foreign fans had! As expected, Makestar is global… Finding out about Makestar before we debuted was a blessing. Thank you!
(Cindy) Because we received more support and love than we expected, I didn’t want to let the fans down, which made me want to work harder!
(Hyeni) I was very shocked! Our international fans opened up a website for us and our Korean fans work hard for us like it’s a job. It moved me very much and made me realize that I can never get lazy. It made me want to work harder. Whenever I was tired, our fans were like vitamins and helped me get back up. Even when I think about it now, I’m very thankful and want to work harder. Hwaiting!
(E.you) The fact that people were looking forward to us before we even debuted was interesting. Also, it made me really want to express our concept well, since I didn’t want to let any fans down.
How did you react when you found out the Makestar contributors were going to choose your concept and leader/center?
(Hyeni) I thought it was a great idea. Since WeGirls’ concept is that we always maintain good communication with fans, I think it’s charming for the fans to be involved in its creation. Also, I feel like it helps us get closer to our fans, so I like it a lot!!!
(HaL) I was just happy about the fact that there was people interested in us before we debuted and for the fans who participated, I started to get tense and felt that I need to portray this concept well in order not to let them down on their expectations.
(Cindy) I was surprised because it is a completely different way of doing things, but after I saw that all of the fans who would be participating cared about and loved us so much, I changed my mind and thought it was a good idea.
(Yehana) I thought it was a very different way of doing things. The fans said that because we are a group that they can help create, they felt more love for us.
(E.you) I was just happy about the fact that there was people interested in us before we debuted and for the fans who participated, I started to get tense and felt that I need to portray this concept well in order not to let them down on their expectations.
What other concepts would you like to tackle in the future? Would you want the fans to have a hand in that as well?
(E.you) I want to try all the concepts our fans want ~ I will work hard so I can try many different kinds of music~!!
(Hyeni) I want to try many different concepts. Of course, if our fans can help us choose, I’d like it very much too.
(Cindy) I want to show many different sides of myself! Instead of always sticking to one concept, I want to show many different charms. If we combine what we want with what the fans want, wouldn’t we do well? Haha.
(Yehana) We don’t have anything to show right now, so I want to show many things in the future haha. If we combine the opinions of our fans, us, and our company, I feel like we can create good synergy!!
(HaL) Yes!! Of course, if our fans wanted a certain concept, it would be nice to do that concept! But even if it isn’t a concept our fans want, and it shows a different side to WeGirls, wouldn’t they like it too?
You all have broken the mold with leaving your debut in the hands of the fans. How do you feel about making history in the industry with such a bold choice?
(Cindy) That is why I feel like our concept of “Communication” is so important and such a valuable tool for us. Not only right after our debut, but also in the future, I hope to communicate with fans much more and create a relationship built on trust and support. ^^
(Hyeni) There are a lot of people who were worried, but after seeing the results, I knew it wasn’t a choice I regretted. I think that an artist and their fans are always together. They listen to us, sing our songs, and critique us. So I think that this was a good thing we did by sharing this with the public.
(Yehana) From the start, our concept has been “a group that communicates with fans”. In order to stay true to that concept, we want our fans to participate in production as well. Not only after our debut, but in the future as well, I hope to communicate with our fans about many things and create WeGirls together. ^^
(HaL) I can’t believe it. I’m just so thankful to every single person who supports us and is waiting for us!!! I don’t want to let the fans down, so we will continue to work hard.
(E.you) I’m as nervous as I was when we started, but that has only raised my self-esteem. ^^
What other activities would you like to explore as idols outside of promoting — such as acting, CFs, and the like?
(Yehana) I want to act in a movie, sing a drama OST, or perform in a musical! I don’t know when the opportunity will arise, but I am preparing for it hehe.
(HaL) I want to be an actress. Before I became an idol, I learned acting for 3 years. Even though it wasn’t a big role, I’ve acted in a small role before. I’m especially good at crying scenes! All the compliments I received when I was learning how to act made me feel good. I still have a lot to learn and it’ll be very difficult, but in the future if a part opens up, I will work hard. I really want to receive recognition as an actress!!
(Cindy) Personally, I really want to try singing a drama OST! I feel like the OST plays such a big role in carrying on the emotion, so if an opportunity comes up, I really want to try. ^^
(Hyeni) I have so many things! I especially want to try acting. During my school days, when I was in the Theater Club, I gained a lot of passion for acting. Even though they weren’t big roles, I’ve been an image model and have had a small part before. Being able to change who you are and what image you have after every role made me see my charms even more!
(E.you) Honestly, if the opportunity comes up, I want to try everything~
You’ll be debuting in just a few months. What are you most excited to show the fans through your debut?
(Yehana) I’m looking forward to showing off the song and choreo that all of us WeGirls members worked hard to create. Also, the performance. ^^
(E.you) People seem really interested in the song ~ I think our song is different from most girl groups’ in that it has a very peculiar appeal to it. I’m looking forward to seeing how our fans will react to it ~
(Hyeni) In our performance, we will be showing a different image from what we’ve shown so far, so I’m a bit nervous. We’ve had many different concepts so far, but this performance will show much more, so I’m really looking forward to how excited the fans will be! Which is why we are working so hard!
(HaL) For me, it’s the first performance. Of course I’m a bit nervous and worried about if we will do well, but for now I am working very hard!!
And lastly: where do you see WEGIRLS in five years? What would you most like to accomplish as a group?
(Cindy) We are always focusing on our roles and working hard on our individual positions. Each of us who are lacking, we want to spend time together, support each other and fill each other up while we work hard so that later we can a become a perfect WeGirls. Our older and younger members are so sweet and kind so in 5 years, I hope that we can become a close group. Instead of always seeking things for ourselves, I want to become a group that works hard together!
(Hyeni) By being together, we want to work hard to become a long-lasting group that can lean on each other like a family. When WeGirls fans like us and support us, it makes me want to become a group that hears “WeGirls is a good group” often. Of course, I want to remain a group that communicates with their fans like we do now. In order to not disappoint, we will work hard, so please give us lots of love^^!
(E.you) We will continue to show our charms and try many different things, but in 5 years I hope all of us can put on a performance for our fans~!!
(HaL) I can’t really predict how we’ll be in five years. But because we all work very hard to make good songs and good choreo, I sincerely believe we will do well!
(Yehana) Usually I hear that it takes 3 years of being unknown before new groups can become popular. In 5 years, I hope we can become a group that everyone will know. So I hope that the album and performance we worked so hard on, will receive lot of love. ^^
Finally to all Onehallyu users, please look at WeGirls well and give us lot of love! Thank you!
