Annie's Journey: From Virtual Practice to K-Pop Debut

Annie, a member of the 'All Day Project,' recently revealed her unique journey of practicing virtually for four years before her debut.

On the 5th, the YouTube channel TEO released an episode titled 'All Day Kindergarten Opens | EP. 102 All Day Project Annie Tarzan | Salon Drip 2.'

Annie, who is a fan of 2NE1 and Big Bang, shared, "Whenever their songs played, I felt the need to mimic them," adding, "Practicing singing or dancing at home often led to complaints about the noise." She continued, "When I first mentioned my aspirations, they weren't taken seriously. It was dismissed as just a 'passing phase,' a term I now dislike intensely."

Known as the 'daughter of Shinsegae's chairman,' Annie explained her path to debut, saying, "I auditioned for The Black Label and became a trainee." She further elaborated, "While studying in the U.S., I took online classes and sent evaluation videos to the company for feedback over four years. During school breaks, I would return to Korea to practice." To persuade her initially hesitant mother, Annie gained acceptance into Columbia University, an Ivy League school, while preparing for her idol debut as a trainee under The Black Label.

Annie also shared her family's reaction post-debut. Her younger sister commented, "Your face keeps popping up in my algorithm."

Annie is the granddaughter of Lee Myung-hee, the chairwoman of Shinsegae Group, and the daughter of Jung Yoo-kyung, the chairman of Shinsegae. She debuted as a member of the All Day Project in June.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr