Han Eun-ji (한은지), known by her stage name Mia, a former member of the K-pop girl group EVERGLOW (에버글로우), recently garnered unexpected attention after a netizen in Korea encountered her working as a barista. The barista reportedly mentioned having been an idol in the past and was later identified by the netizen as Mia, sparking immediate discussion online.
A Chinese netizen recently shared their experience on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform, recounting a visit to a coffee shop in Korea. During a conversation with a barista, the employee mentioned having been an idol previously.
At the time, the original poster had no idea which group the barista belonged to, only noting a "huge contrast between her aura and appearance." They shared the chance encounter online, writing: "When I went to buy coffee, I chatted with the staff for a bit, and she mentioned she used to be an idol. But I had no idea which group she was from, I just felt the contrast was really big."
After the post gained traction, it quickly caught the attention of X (formerly Twitter) users, with some identifying the barista as Mia, a former member of EVERGLOW.
Netizens compiled the information, noting that a Chinese woman had a casual conversation with a barista in Korea, who revealed her past as an idol. The original poster was initially unaware of Mia's group affiliation, only realizing the significant change in her life after her identity was revealed.
The news spread quickly, leaving many netizens shocked and sympathetic. Mia was previously beloved by fans for her exceptional dance skills, stage presence, and powerful aura. The revelation that she may have stepped away from the entertainment industry to work in a coffee shop left many fans feeling emotional.
Some lamented the "sad reality of mid-tier idols becoming baristas," while others suggested that the treatment of Mia and other idols in the Korean entertainment industry warrants re-examination.
Fans also commented, saying, "I really miss Mia, I hope she's doing well now. She was an amazing performer." Others recalled the group's past experiences, believing the members faced much unfair treatment, with some even stating, "It still makes me sad that they never received income." However, these claims are currently primarily from netizen comments. Another fan expressed, "The K-pop industry really owes her an apology, how could they toy with her life and dreams like that?"
Upon seeing Mia's current life, other netizens commented, "Oh my god..." and "Glad to see her living her own life, away from all the negativity."
Mia was a key member of the fourth-generation girl group EVERGLOW, serving as the main vocalist and main dancer, and was recognized for her stable dance skills and stage presence. The sudden revelation of her transition to a barista, and the stark contrast between her past life in the spotlight and her current low-key existence, has brought this former shining idol back into the thoughts of many fans.
