Youngseo, once part of HYBE’s trainee system and the final ILLIT lineup, is finally opening up about her rocky path to debut. Now gearing up to launch with THE BLACK LABEL’s co-ed group ALLDAY, she’s sharing the emotional rollercoaster that followed her unexpected exit from HYBE’s BELIFT LAB. In a revealing video on ALLDAY PROJECT’s YouTube, Youngseo addressed long-standing rumors that she was set to join other YG Entertainment projects, admitting she had to lay low while her future remained uncertain.
Her biggest struggle? Feeling like she might be aging out of the K-pop world. At just 19, Youngseo feared she was already too old to debut, a sad reflection of the industry’s obsession with debuting young idols while treating those over 30 like they’ve hit retirement. After leaving HYBE and exiting ILLIT, she sent countless audition tapes to agencies, determined not to give up. THE BLACK LABEL eventually saw her talent and offered her a spot in ALLDAY PROJECT.
19yo youngseo thinking she was too old to debut is now debuting as the maknae 🥹 pic.twitter.com/6ejRnFkqLJ
— lune (@nyangzeoz) June 13, 2025
Fans, however, are furious at BELIFT LAB, accusing them of putting her through unnecessary mental stress and calling the agency “evil” for how things ended. Despite everything, Youngseo’s resilience has earned her even more love from fans who admire her fight to keep chasing her dream.
