Crazy when Ruka talked about her friends gone to college and her training 6 years and not knowing if she'll debut at all. Imagine all of those hundreds of kids training 2-6 years across kpop companies who were cut-off after training for many years.
They don't mention much about their previous history in these introductions, but most of them are like what we would call Disney Kids in the USA. Ruka has acting credits as well as she was already in a Japanese group when she shifted to YG in 2018 after her and Asa were the only 2 chosen from the YG tryouts in Japan (they were the first of the 7 to join the BabyMonster program). Ruka is a hilarious, adorable, sweet, goofball and complete gorgeous badass at the same time. A YG staff said in an interview that Ruka is so gorgeous when you see her in person your brain will stop working for a few seconds (like seeing Jisoo in person). Ruka is my #2 most beautiful woman on Earth behind Jisoo. On Knowing Bros show she showed she can speak to dogs, showed her comedic side (she is hilarious), and did a solo dance = must see tv. She is my BM Bias. When you watch the Introduction to Rora, please notice the first thing said about her is the Head of YG Staff stating that she is an All Rounder. Although she has no videos of her rapping she cannot be an all rounder without being a good rapper so she was already a good rapper prior to filming Last Evaluation. the first thing Rora mentions is that she was called by YG himself to be recruited. She is the only one of the 7 who did not need to tryout and was recruited to join the BabyMonster program. As far as I understand the Korean age is different from how we calculate it this way. If you were born in 2002 you are considered age 1 in 2002 (as soon as you are born). On Jan 1, 2003 you turn 2 (regardless of your birth date). So she turned 20 (Korean adult age) January 1st 2021. So we know that was filmed on 1/1/2021. They don't say their birth age when asked how old they are, they just say the year. So, if someone asks your age you don't tell them your age you say, 1992 (if you were born in 1992).
The girls auditioned individually to be a apart of YG training program in hopes that one day YG debut them as a group or soloist. YG invests in eveything from audition to debut.
Lee Jung Lee is one of a small and tight knit set of elite hiphop choreographers and dancers in Korea. Originally from Korea, she spent some of her young years going to school in the US, returning to Korea to pursue her passion for dance. She became the youngest person and the first female to be accepted into the famous Just Jerk Crew. She is a brlliant, creative freestyle dancer. She has been closely associated with YG and they tapped her to train Babymonster. She has also choreographed some well known dances for other groups (like Ryujin's "shoulder dance" and other dances for Itzy, G-Idle, Twice, Sunmi...). I think she is currently doing some work with MEOVV. She appeared a number of times in the intro series for Baemon. I liked her approach - it really struck me when she told the girls (not a direct quote) I'm not teaching you to dance, I'll consider that I've succeeded if you have gotten a love of dance. And she's only 26 years old.
Just a little info, there’s not a lot of information about Ruka’s family life. But it is said that she is the only child which is why she felt immense pressure succeed so she can take care of her family. These introduction videos have been filmed at different times of their training period. Obviously she was 20 years old when she was doing the interview parts, but I think she acts that way with her mom because that’s how she is with her mom. Hugging that stuffed animal is her way to cope when she misses her family and friends. Also, if she is an only child of course her she is used to be on her own and independent. I don’t think being around younger girls stunted her in any way. She is the oldest trainee and even though she is the most experienced and mature one, she also has a very playful and bright side which the younger girls bring out of her. She has a good balance of discipline, but also really adaptable with other people. Ruka actually was a Japan girl group before auditioning in YGE, so she understands dealing with different personalities and relating to other girls. Ruka has this crazy duality of being such a fierce and swaggy rapper of BABYMONSTER, but she actually is a natural joker/comedian who loves to tell dad jokes and have fun. She’s energetic af 😂 Ruka and Asa are very skilled lyricists and write their own raps since predebut/trainee days. They also have the ability to compose their own music, Asa is a little bit more highlighted as a composer, but Ruka knows how to compose and arrange music too. Both of them also are the strongest dancers in the group. They also can sing as well… tbh BABYMONSTER is a group full of all rounders/aces.. don’t like others tell you differently. They all have their different strengths and skills, but they still dabble and can do other rap, dance, sing, and compose.
For some of your questions: The dance instructor: Lee LeeJung is the dance instructor for BabyMonster. She became rather famous in the Dance world with Lady StreetFighter Dance competition. She is famous now throughout the industry and not just within YG. Her Choreo work includes at YG BlackPink as a group, iKon (boy group), BlackPink Lisa as a soloist, BlackPink Jennie as a soloist, Solo Artist Jeon Somi (The Black Label), MEOVV JYP Entertainment groups ITZY and Twice and Chung Ha (soloist MNH) The age/turn adult thing... So in Korean Tradition (although it is not legally in practice now), everybody increments their age by 1 year at new years, and you are actually born age 1.... however you will see "international age" being used throughout the BM videos, not "Korean age"... when this video was recorded 20 was the legal age. As of January 1, 2024, South Korea adopted the international age system, making the legal adult age 19 instead of 20. Confusing, but, it is what it is.
Actually the dorms are NOT in the YGE building, their accommodations/dorms is in the same neighborhood as the YGE building. That’s why you see the girls walking back and forth to their dorms to the YGE building in pre-debut. Then when they were preparing for debut and debut they had to be driven back and forth. Actually the 4th and 5th gen of YGE artists and trainees have better accommodations/dorms compared to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen YGE artists. Granted, YGE senior artists are successful and some of them have moved out of their dorms. Also, to answer your question SKOREA used to have a different age system than US. Technically they are one year older than the rest of the world because they believed the 9months + 3 months already makes the baby 1 year old. There’s also formalities too when it comes to age as well too. But recently SKOREA got rid of the old age system and is now following international age, so it’s the same as US age system. Of course they still have formalities when it comes to age. BABYMONSTER’s age by oldest to youngest: RUKA 22 will be 23 in March PHARITA 19 ASA 18 AHYEON 17 RAMI 17 RORA 16 CHIQUITA 15 will turn 16 in next month.
Thanks for posting. This just came up on my feed so first time to watch you. I have loved BABYMONSTER since watching LAST EVALUATION. I am rather new to K-pop, May 2024, for reasons you stated here. I wandered into LAST EVALUATION on TH-cam and it was so emotional I had to follow the girls! I have gone back and watched it like 5 times! It doesn’t grow old! Then to see them now, how much they have grown! I barely recognized Chiquita now in 2024 vs. 13 year old Chiquita in LAST EVALUATION! I hope they bring their world tour 2025 to Kansas City! Unfortunately, I can’t make it to California or New Jersey. Ruka is so cool!
Great Reaction D Double DJ! In South Korea you’re not an adult until you turn 20! But in Japan it’s 18 like the U.S.! And the trainees don’t pay back for their training! This why they televise some of these Last Evaluations to offset some of the cost! Other companies they have to pay back! YG gives them an allowance every month! But members from South Korea will usually bring the Thai and Japanese members homemade meals! And I believe ASA does some cooking for them! RORA is a Bakery Chef of the group! And yes their Dorms are in the YG building and there’s a Cafeteria and Convenience store in the building! Sometimes they go to restaurants near the company to eat as well! YGE profit margins are not as big as other companies because he spends a lot of money on the training programs in South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Australia! Looking forward to the rest of the Introductions! 🤘🙏🏻
Yg is one of the few companies that pay for all living expenses. At this stage they are basically a commodity though. Which isn’t a bad thing. Same as anyone with a job. Video of them going to a Nike store picking out clothes Im sure they got to keep. Videos all dressed in adidas. And a Pepsi commercial. Love to know what they are getting payed.
Very good reaction thanks for reacting to Babymonster. There is a separate building on that same street that is dedicated to training and it is called YG training center and the trainees who are in their final phase are the ones who enter the YG building to continue the final phase of his training and be selected in the final line up and become an official member of the group and the one who chooses the members is YG himself in person. In the YG building there are dance practice rooms, singing practice rooms,recording studios,Each internal producer at YG has his own studio,and some YG artists have their own studio for writing and produce songs,there is a gym with personal trainers,a Jiu Jitsu room for artists who want to learn,a convenience store inside YG ,and two restaurants and One of them is the cafeteria for YG workers and idols is known to be one of the best among entertainment companies. YG has departments that use them as dormitories for trainees and those who are foreigners stay there and the trainees who are Korean and still attend school can stay at their parents' house or if they want they can stay in the dormitories with the other trainees And those who are already selected for the final group that is going to debut are separated from the other trainees in another dormitory with a room for each member. This is how Babymonster lives at this moment.
My understanding is, Korean law states you become an adult at age 19. However, recently Chiquita, Rora, Rami and Ahyeon returned from Japan because they are minors and the law prohibits them from working late (I'm guessing past 10pm) while Asa, who is 18, Pharita and Ruka stayed to represent at the New Year's Eve appearance until after midnight. Dang! I knew this was gonna happen. I get emotional for Ruka every time when she tears up and I knew this was coming yet, I still watched it. That's all I got for you.
YG pays for it and when they debut they start paying it back. Kind of like when you go to college and you pay for the debt later. But YG also sets a rule that if an artist does not debut they don’t have to pay any of it back. But also if the group debuts well enough and are popular the debt Can get paid back quicker. I remember reading a post that after they debuted each member received a little over a million American money
Wow that’s a hell of a deal but that really makes it make sense why they are so tough and you can be there years then just get tossed. If they feel it’s a losing cause they can cut bait. Big double edge sword there where you could waste some good college years training just to end up with nothing.
Ur statement lil wrong .... YG SPENd 1 mil usd a year for one person when people training and YG the only company don't make a debt for training time.. and all revenue when their debut 70 artists 30 company...all information u can get at YG website...
as for the birthday on new years day, Korea is one of many who use to celebrate this custom. but many countries including Korea have stopped using this method of aging as the rest of the world uses the actual date of birth. So the custom in this clip, when a child is born, the are 1 year old at birth, as they start counting from inception, and the 9 months in the mothers belly. And to simplify it even more, on New Years Day, everyone gains a year of age, so there are no individual celebrations, everyone celebrates together. Here is the biggest issue with this use of measuring age. lets say you are born in January, you are 1 year old, and come New years day the next year, you are two, not so bad. but lets say you were born December, you are one years old at birth, and less than 30 days later is New Years Day, and you are now two. but technically you are still only a month old.
Crazy when Ruka talked about her friends gone to college and her training 6 years and not knowing if she'll debut at all. Imagine all of those hundreds of kids training 2-6 years across kpop companies who were cut-off after training for many years.
They don't mention much about their previous history in these introductions, but most of them are like what we would call Disney Kids in the USA. Ruka has acting credits as well as she was already in a Japanese group when she shifted to YG in 2018 after her and Asa were the only 2 chosen from the YG tryouts in Japan (they were the first of the 7 to join the BabyMonster program). Ruka is a hilarious, adorable, sweet, goofball and complete gorgeous badass at the same time. A YG staff said in an interview that Ruka is so gorgeous when you see her in person your brain will stop working for a few seconds (like seeing Jisoo in person). Ruka is my #2 most beautiful woman on Earth behind Jisoo. On Knowing Bros show she showed she can speak to dogs, showed her comedic side (she is hilarious), and did a solo dance = must see tv. She is my BM Bias.
When you watch the Introduction to Rora, please notice the first thing said about her is the Head of YG Staff stating that she is an All Rounder. Although she has no videos of her rapping she cannot be an all rounder without being a good rapper so she was already a good rapper prior to filming Last Evaluation. the first thing Rora mentions is that she was called by YG himself to be recruited. She is the only one of the 7 who did not need to tryout and was recruited to join the BabyMonster program.
As far as I understand the Korean age is different from how we calculate it this way. If you were born in 2002 you are considered age 1 in 2002 (as soon as you are born). On Jan 1, 2003 you turn 2 (regardless of your birth date). So she turned 20 (Korean adult age) January 1st 2021. So we know that was filmed on 1/1/2021. They don't say their birth age when asked how old they are, they just say the year. So, if someone asks your age you don't tell them your age you say, 1992 (if you were born in 1992).
Ruka is my bias . l love her so much because she is so talented girl❤
The girls auditioned individually to be a apart of YG training program in hopes that one day YG debut them as a group or soloist. YG invests in eveything from audition to debut.
Lee Jung Lee is one of a small and tight knit set of elite hiphop choreographers and dancers in Korea. Originally from Korea, she spent some of her young years going to school in the US, returning to Korea to pursue her passion for dance. She became the youngest person and the first female to be accepted into the famous Just Jerk Crew. She is a brlliant, creative freestyle dancer.
She has been closely associated with YG and they tapped her to train Babymonster. She has also choreographed some well known dances for other groups (like Ryujin's "shoulder dance" and other dances for Itzy, G-Idle, Twice, Sunmi...). I think she is currently doing some work with MEOVV.
She appeared a number of times in the intro series for Baemon. I liked her approach - it really struck me when she told the girls (not a direct quote) I'm not teaching you to dance, I'll consider that I've succeeded if you have gotten a love of dance.
And she's only 26 years old.
Just a little info, there’s not a lot of information about Ruka’s family life. But it is said that she is the only child which is why she felt immense pressure succeed so she can take care of her family. These introduction videos have been filmed at different times of their training period. Obviously she was 20 years old when she was doing the interview parts, but I think she acts that way with her mom because that’s how she is with her mom. Hugging that stuffed animal is her way to cope when she misses her family and friends. Also, if she is an only child of course her she is used to be on her own and independent. I don’t think being around younger girls stunted her in any way. She is the oldest trainee and even though she is the most experienced and mature one, she also has a very playful and bright side which the younger girls bring out of her. She has a good balance of discipline, but also really adaptable with other people. Ruka actually was a Japan girl group before auditioning in YGE, so she understands dealing with different personalities and relating to other girls.
Ruka has this crazy duality of being such a fierce and swaggy rapper of BABYMONSTER, but she actually is a natural joker/comedian who loves to tell dad jokes and have fun. She’s energetic af 😂
Ruka and Asa are very skilled lyricists and write their own raps since predebut/trainee days. They also have the ability to compose their own music, Asa is a little bit more highlighted as a composer, but Ruka knows how to compose and arrange music too. Both of them also are the strongest dancers in the group. They also can sing as well… tbh BABYMONSTER is a group full of all rounders/aces.. don’t like others tell you differently. They all have their different strengths and skills, but they still dabble and can do other rap, dance, sing, and compose.
For some of your questions:
The dance instructor: Lee LeeJung is the dance instructor for BabyMonster. She became rather famous in the Dance world with Lady StreetFighter Dance competition.
She is famous now throughout the industry and not just within YG.
Her Choreo work includes at YG BlackPink as a group, iKon (boy group), BlackPink Lisa as a soloist, BlackPink Jennie as a soloist, Solo Artist Jeon Somi (The Black Label), MEOVV
JYP Entertainment groups ITZY and Twice and Chung Ha (soloist MNH)
The age/turn adult thing... So in Korean Tradition (although it is not legally in practice now), everybody increments their age by 1 year at new years, and you are actually born age 1....
however you will see "international age" being used throughout the BM videos, not "Korean age"... when this video was recorded 20 was the legal age. As of January 1, 2024, South Korea adopted the international age system, making the legal adult age 19 instead of 20. Confusing, but, it is what it is.
At 3:20 is dance a choreographer LeeJung Lee. Yes the dorms are in the building all of the stuff they show is
Actually the dorms are NOT in the YGE building, their accommodations/dorms is in the same neighborhood as the YGE building. That’s why you see the girls walking back and forth to their dorms to the YGE building in pre-debut. Then when they were preparing for debut and debut they had to be driven back and forth.
Actually the 4th and 5th gen of YGE artists and trainees have better accommodations/dorms compared to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen YGE artists. Granted, YGE senior artists are successful and some of them have moved out of their dorms.
Also, to answer your question SKOREA used to have a different age system than US. Technically they are one year older than the rest of the world because they believed the 9months + 3 months already makes the baby 1 year old. There’s also formalities too when it comes to age as well too. But recently SKOREA got rid of the old age system and is now following international age, so it’s the same as US age system. Of course they still have formalities when it comes to age.
BABYMONSTER’s age by oldest to youngest:
RUKA 22 will be 23 in March
PHARITA 19
ASA 18
AHYEON 17
RAMI 17
RORA 16
CHIQUITA 15 will turn 16 in next month.
Thanks for posting. This just came up on my feed so first time to watch you. I have loved BABYMONSTER since watching LAST EVALUATION. I am rather new to K-pop, May 2024, for reasons you stated here. I wandered into LAST EVALUATION on TH-cam and it was so emotional I had to follow the girls! I have gone back and watched it like 5 times! It doesn’t grow old! Then to see them now, how much they have grown! I barely recognized Chiquita now in 2024 vs. 13 year old Chiquita in LAST EVALUATION! I hope they bring their world tour 2025 to Kansas City! Unfortunately, I can’t make it to California or New Jersey. Ruka is so cool!
Great Reaction D Double DJ! In South Korea you’re not an adult until you turn 20! But in Japan it’s 18 like the U.S.! And the trainees don’t pay back for their training! This why they televise some of these Last Evaluations to offset some of the cost! Other companies they have to pay back! YG gives them an allowance every month! But members from South Korea will usually bring the Thai and Japanese members homemade meals! And I believe ASA does some cooking for them! RORA is a Bakery Chef of the group!
And yes their Dorms are in the YG building and there’s a Cafeteria and Convenience store in the building! Sometimes they go to restaurants near the company to eat as well! YGE profit margins are not as big as other companies because he spends a lot of money on the training programs in South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Australia! Looking forward to the rest of the Introductions! 🤘🙏🏻
Rukawaii my baby❤❤
you will love to watch all of their introduction videos man 😂
Thanks for reacting to these 🙏
Yg is one of the few companies that pay for all living expenses.
At this stage they are basically a commodity though. Which isn’t a bad thing. Same as anyone with a job.
Video of them going to a Nike store picking out clothes Im sure they got to keep. Videos all dressed in adidas. And a Pepsi commercial.
Love to know what they are getting payed.
Very good reaction thanks for reacting to Babymonster.
There is a separate building on that same street that is dedicated to training and it is called YG training center and the trainees who are in their final phase are the ones who enter the YG building to continue the final phase of his training and be selected in the final line up and become an official member of the group and the one who chooses the members is YG himself in person.
In the YG building there are dance practice rooms, singing practice rooms,recording studios,Each internal producer at YG has his own studio,and some YG artists have their own studio for writing and produce songs,there is a gym with personal trainers,a Jiu Jitsu room for artists who want to learn,a convenience store inside YG ,and two restaurants and One of them is the cafeteria for YG workers and idols is known to be one of the best among entertainment companies.
YG has departments that use them as dormitories for trainees and those who are foreigners stay there and the trainees who are Korean and still attend school can stay at their parents' house or if they want they can stay in the dormitories with the other trainees And those who are already selected for the final group that is going to debut are separated from the other trainees in another dormitory with a room for each member. This is how Babymonster lives at this moment.
In Japan & China you've become an adult when reach 19yo already. But in Korea 20yo international (Korean year it's 21yo)
👍
My understanding is, Korean law states you become an adult at age 19. However, recently Chiquita, Rora, Rami and Ahyeon returned from Japan because they are minors and the law prohibits them from working late (I'm guessing past 10pm) while Asa, who is 18, Pharita and Ruka stayed to represent at the New Year's Eve appearance until after midnight.
Dang! I knew this was gonna happen. I get emotional for Ruka every time when she tears up and I knew this was coming yet, I still watched it. That's all I got for you.
Japan laws are age 18 (International age). Korea you need to be 20 (Korean age) 21 (International age) to be considered an adult.
@@glenndavis1868 Thank you for the clarification.
Korea is 19 for adult , June 2023 they switched to international age and stopped doing the Jan 1 old bday way. (Per google)
@@mtvegas77 That is what my research showed as well. Thank you.
@@mtvegas77 Thanks. I had no idea they switched. Way less confusing now.
Those Cat Eyes
I can't😩
LeeJung is Dance Instructor for Babymonster and BlackPink that I Know of
YG pays for it and when they debut they start paying it back. Kind of like when you go to college and you pay for the debt later. But YG also sets a rule that if an artist does not debut they don’t have to pay any of it back. But also if the group debuts well enough and are popular the debt
Can get paid back quicker. I remember reading a post that after they debuted each member received a little over a million American money
Wow that’s a hell of a deal but that really makes it make sense why they are so tough and you can be there years then just get tossed. If they feel it’s a losing cause they can cut bait. Big double edge sword there where you could waste some good college years training just to end up with nothing.
No. Trainees don't have to pay back their training fees. They are distributed revenue right after their debut.It's like that now.
Ur statement lil wrong .... YG SPENd 1 mil usd a year for one person when people training and YG the only company don't make a debt for training time.. and all revenue when their debut 70 artists 30 company...all information u can get at YG website...
as for the birthday on new years day, Korea is one of many who use to celebrate this custom. but many countries including Korea have stopped using this method of aging as the rest of the world uses the actual date of birth.
So the custom in this clip, when a child is born, the are 1 year old at birth, as they start counting from inception, and the 9 months in the mothers belly. And to simplify it even more, on New Years Day, everyone gains a year of age, so there are no individual celebrations, everyone celebrates together.
Here is the biggest issue with this use of measuring age. lets say you are born in January, you are 1 year old, and come New years day the next year, you are two, not so bad.
but lets say you were born December, you are one years old at birth, and less than 30 days later is New Years Day, and you are now two. but technically you are still only a month old.
That would make being a younger unnie crazy lol