WJSN's Luda reveals unexpected debut secrets 10 years later

Luda, a former member of WJSN currently focusing on her acting career, has candidly shared her journey from her trainee days to her debut and her current life. In a video uploaded to the YouTube channel 'Chao Room' on the 25th, Luda reminisced about the path she has walked over the past 10 years and connected with her fans.

"My parents didn't know I was a trainee"... An unexpected last-minute addition to the lineup

Luda revealed the intense circumstances surrounding her debut. During her time as a trainee at Starship Entertainment, Luda disclosed that she kept her plans to debut as a singer a secret from her parents. She explained that when she would return home late at night after practicing, she would tell her parents, "I was studying," to hide the situation.

The debut process was also dramatic. Luda shared an anecdote about how she joined the group as the final member during the process of finalizing the lineup. "A few days after taking my trainee profile photos, I was flustered to see my photo on the list of debut members," Luda said, expressing her feelings at the time. "I wasn't fully prepared yet, but I said I would do it because I didn't want to miss this opportunity." She recalled that when she finally informed her parents about the contract, her father was completely unaware that she was even a trainee, saying, "He was flustered when I told him I was becoming a singer."

Episodes from her active years followed. Luda mentioned that due to the nature of the group having 13 members, it was very difficult for her parents to find her on television. "I used to dye my hair a bright color so my parents could find me easily," Luda said, revealing that the reason she maintained bright hair color was to stand out on broadcasts. Additionally, she mentioned her experience of taking on a chorus part for the first time during the promotions for the group's final album, 'Last Sequence,' sharing her joy by saying, "It was my very own chorus."

"13 people in one house"... WJSN's dorm life and bond with members

Reminiscing about her life in the dorm during her WJSN days, Luda revealed the tight bond she shared with the members. Living in a house with 3 rooms and a living room alongside 12 other members, Luda said, "There were inconveniences, like when someone used the shower in the master bedroom, the water in the other bathroom wouldn't run, but if I went out to the living room, there was always someone to talk to, so I was never alone."

Minor conflicts and fun moments with the members were also mentioned. Luda said, "We used to fight over who ate the milk or ice cream," adding, "Even if we wrote our names on things, they would sometimes disappear, so some members even kept separate mini-fridges." She also shared happy memories of secretly eating side dishes prepared by the members' mothers.

Regarding her relationship with the members, she said, "On days when I came back feeling discouraged due to my solo activities, it was so reassuring when the members took my side and comforted me. I felt like I had more than 10 people on my side."

She also mentioned her relationship with the Chinese members, sharing news about her recent trip to Shanghai and how she stays in touch with member Cheng Xiao, who is active in China.

Between an idol's "talent" and an actor's "restraint"... The process of becoming an actress

Luda, who is currently active as an actress, explained how her idol experience influences her acting. She stated that she developed an interest in acting through variety programs with skit formats, such as 'New Journey to the West.'

Luda confessed that letting go of the habits ingrained during her idol days is one of the most difficult things as an actress. "An idol has to find the camera, but an actor must not look at the camera," Luda said. "It wasn't easy to shed the 'talent'—the habit of trying to look pretty or being overly conscious of the camera, which I did during my idol days."

Marking her 10th year since debut, Luda concluded the video by sharing news of a fan-meeting to be held in Korea on November 1 and expressing her gratitude to the fans who have watched over her for the past 10 years.