The nationality breakdown of the members in Lee Soo-man (이수만)'s new girl group, A2O LITE, has recently drawn significant attention. The group consists of nine members hailing from various countries and regions.
Specifically, member RADA is from Thailand, while OA is of Japanese and American descent. The group also includes three members from China: XILI, AIJING, and MERCI.
Additionally, HIMEKI is from Japan. The three Korean members are YOUNG, VORA, and AYUNE. Overall, the nine-member girl group's nationality distribution comprises three Koreans, three Chinese, one Japanese, one Thai, and one Japanese-American.
Below are translated comments from Korean netizens
1. So many different nationalities.
2. Too many Chinese members.
3. The name MERCI is so cool.
4. They really love China.
5. I thought, 'Oh, there are Koreans too?' From what they've done, I thought they were all Chinese.
6. Grandpa Soo-man really loves China.
7. The reviews are good; I wonder if they'll succeed.
8. Fewer Chinese members than I expected, that's good.
9. K-pop groups succeeding with Chinese members is old news; it actually causes backlash in Korea. It's truly supply without demand.
10. Can they be K-pop idols now?
11. Just looking at the photos, the members seem well-chosen, but being of Chinese origin is a risk in itself.
12. They're really good at finding pretty kids.
13. They really love China;; OA is so pretty, the algorithm just showed her to me.
14. They're all so pretty and cute.
15. How do they find these kids?
16. How do they communicate?
17. Grandpa's eye for talent is commendable, but because they're Chinese, I'm worried they'll 'dove' (referring to contract termination and leaving).
18. The top two are the prettiest.
19. Ah, I just don't like female idols sitting like that…
20. But just looking at their faces and visuals, they seem well-chosen; I like them.
21. How old are they? They look younger than idols.
22. There's a 2013-liner…? Aren't they middle schoolers? Wow.
23. Their image is pure and clean.
24. The Chinese kids are pretty.
25. With such a mix, it's too easy for issues to arise due to diplomatic and political matters.
26. I wonder how they communicate.
27. Oh, there are Koreans too…
28. Lee Soo-man has a good eye, but I dislike China…
29. Just looking at the photos, the member Mercy is very pretty.
30. Are there too many Chinese members? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The 'dove' risk is too high.
31. They're a nine-member group, like Girls' Generation.
32. Nowadays, groups with one or two Koreans among foreigners are called 'global groups' and promote well in Korea ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It seems they're planning to promote in Korea.
33. I'm more excited for girl groups than boy groups.
34. The nationalities are really diverse…;;
35. If it's a large group with diverse nationalities, core fans won't stick around… because of the members' statements ㅋㅋ ㅠ
36. They really love China ㅋㅋ
37. It's just a K-pop group with a higher proportion of foreign members…
38. What kind of domestic girl group is this?
39. Their eye for talent is truly amazing.
40. Besides the already debuted kids, were these members chosen to promote in Korea? It's less exotic than I thought, which is nice. Bora and Ayune are pretty.
41. Why does this grandpa like multinational groups so much? The era where having foreign members in a group made them popular in their own country is over.
42. But there are still Korean members. Many people said there weren't before. OA and Ayune are good.
43. Is it necessary to put Chinese and Japanese members together now?
44. MERCI? Someday, someone will come to a fan meeting with MERCI wings.
45. Thinking of 'doves' (contract termination) just by seeing their nationalities isn't good, really.
46. The Chinese kids are the best ㅋ
47. Are they debuting in Korea, not China?
48. Oh, there are Koreans too. I thought it was a Chinese group.
49. I don't know, but why does it look so tacky and cheap?
50. Grandpa's taste is good…
51. Wow, I thought it was Lee Soo-man's group so they'd all be Chinese; I'm surprised there are Koreans ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
52. MERCI is so pretty.
