Rising Star Han Hae-ri-jun Reflects on Missed Opportunities and Future Aspirations

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"I'm quite disappointed that a lot of the dance battle was edited out. I thought I did well, and both my trainee friends and the production team said I was the best, so I was confident. But it didn't make it to the broadcast."

Recently, I met Han Hae-ri-jun, who left a strong impression on viewers with both his talent and character on Mnet's 'Boys 2 Planet,' at a café in Gangnam. When asked about any regrets from the show, he responded with the above. He added, "I cried during the 'like JENNIE' interview. That scene was used in the trailer, but it didn't air in the main broadcast," expressing his disappointment.

Han Hae-ri-jun, born in 2004, is an artist in his sixth year since debuting in 2020. Despite his exceptional skills, which earned him the top spot in the 12th class of the Practical Dance Department at Hanlim Multi Art School, his career was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after his debut. With limited opportunities to perform on stage, he has consistently participated in competition programs to prove his unique abilities.

In 2022, he appeared on Mnet's 'Be Ambitious' and JTBC's 'Peak Time' in 2023. Last year, he won the Japan-Korea collaboration program 'Reborn,' but due to production issues, his official debut was canceled. This year, he competed in 'Boys 2 Planet,' captivating viewers not only with his outstanding performances but also with his warm-hearted care for fellow contestant Park Dong-kyu.

When asked why he cried in the edited interview, Han Hae-ri-jun confessed, "I worked hard, but our team scored last, which was upsetting. I was ranked third individually, so I didn't receive any benefits. I didn't expect our team to be last, so it was a big blow. I started questioning if I choreographed poorly or danced badly." He added with a smile, "I've recovered well, and I'm okay now. It was just tough at the time."

"Master Baek Goo-young selected a few trainees to dance during the signal song choreography session, and I was chosen. I executed it flawlessly (laughs). It was a proud moment, and when the master said, 'He always dances well,' it was a huge encouragement. It meant a lot to have my dance skills recognized by a top dancer."

Han Hae-ri-jun, who diligently monitors fan comments on Bubble, shared that memorable comments like "Why is he ranked 47th?", "I don't understand why he's not in the debut group," and "He dances the best" have been incredibly encouraging and motivating.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr