3 Filipina trainees to debut in K-pop girl group
A total of three Filipina trainees are set to debut in the K-pop girl group UNIS after securing their debut spots on the South Korean survival show Universe Ticket.
These trainees are the recently announced Gehlee Dangca and the Filipino-Korean Jin Hyeon-ju, following in the heels of Elisia Parmisano, who was the first Filipina to clinch a debut spot in UNIS.
In the show’s finale that aired on Jan. 17, Gehlee secured her spot as the fourth member after advancing to the P-level, the highest ranking in the survival show.
Universal Records Philippines and StarHorizon TV Productions paved the way for Gehlee to pursue her dream as a Universe Ticket trainee.
The episode also revealed that Gehlee received 2,464,526 fan votes. In addition to Gehlee, Hyeon-ju was announced as the eighth member set to debut in UNIS after also advancing to the P-level and gaining 496,797 fan votes.
Prior to joining Universe Ticket, the Fil-Korean was already known in the K-pop industry, having debuted in the girl group Cignature in 2020 under the stage name Belle.
Earlier, Elisia was the first to make it to the upcoming K-pop girl group under F&F Entertainment. The debut date for the group has not been revealed yet.
The show, which premiered on Nov. 18, 2023, has captivated audiences worldwide, offering a platform for 82 aspiring idols to compete for a chance at stardom.
The group UNIS now consists of Elisia (Philippines), Yunha (South Korea), Nana (Japan), Gehlee (Philippines), Seowon (South Korea), Yoona (South Korea), Kotoko (Japan) and Hyeon-ju (Philippines/South Korea). It’s set to be the first K-pop group with fullblooded Filipinas.