LE SSERAFIM’S Documentary: The World is my Oyster Makes You Fall in Love With All the Members

On September 17, 2022 HYBE released a four-part documentary on their new group LE SSERAFIM. Each episode averaged about 20 minutes in length. So, if by any chance, you don’t have 80 minutes to spare, or you just want to relive the excitement, here are some highlights! 

Episode One: Introductions

LE SSERAFIM starts out strong with a powerful name. The name of the group is an anagram for “I’m Fearless,” a message that seems to be backed by the members well. The new group ranges from previously-known artists to members who were scouted off the streets. The first episode gives you the vibe of each one of this group’s members with their short introductions. 

Sakura, a former IZ*ONE member, is the first to be introduced. She seems to be nothing but herself, true and raw, she speaks about her feelings towards being back in the limelight after already having a successful career, as she says, “Coming to another company and debuting again is very greedy of me.”

Chaewon, also a former member of IZ*ONE, expresses that being part of LE SSERAFIM is her chance to be better: “I wanted to show a side that's new and better than when I was in IZ*ONE.”

Yunjin seems to be beaming with excitement when she walks into the practice room and meets her co-members for the first time. 

Haruka is briefly introduced before the company announces that she would no longer be a part of the group. HYBE staff members explain that sometimes in pre-debut teams unexpected changes could happen and that finding the perfect fit for the group is the main priority. 

Kazuha is introduced pretty late into the first episode and is portrayed as needing to catch up. The skilled ballet dancer is shown having a hard time acclimating to the new environment as she doesn’t speak Korean fluently and is not familiar with the rest of the members. 

Eunchae is the last to be introduced and she is the perfect addition to the group. She lets us know that she is a strong dancer and is even complimented by staff as being the epitome of Gen Z by being smart and bubbly. 

Episode Two: Trials and Tribulations

In short, episode two shows the girls getting into the groove of things. Tears are shed, exhaustion kicks in, and anxiety is high while they await their debut announcement. Such a close-up view of their daily routine really gives fans the chance to see how much work actually goes into every bit of content released. Watching this makes you feel connected to the girls while rooting for them to hang in there. 

Episode Three: Underneath the Glamor

As fans, we only ever see the final result of months of preparations. In episode three, we get to see behind the scenes of photoshoots, video shoots, and dance practices. All the while, the girls struggle with things such as self-image, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy, and constant pressure from their higher-ups. The girls form a stronger bond by opening the line of communication and supporting each other. At one point, the topic of weight is brought up, and tension feels like it is at an all-time high. It’s at this moment that the girls are able to come to an agreement about how they should manage themselves to reduce the pressure from the company.

Episode Four: The Final Countdown

In the final installment of this short docuseries, viewers experience the excitement of the impending debut date. Our darling group leader, Kim Chaewon is announced. The group claps and cheers as she assures the team that she wants the group’s dynamic to remain as open as it was prior to her title change. Over the course of the four videos, the audience really gets to experience the exciting moments of LE SSERAFIM’s journey to debut. Watching them take their first stage together is a pride-filled moment, with hoards of excited spectators lined up for the chance of witnessing HYBE’s new girl group. 

Once the final episode concluded, it left viewers wanting more. Interestingly enough, while the group originally consisted of six members, the documentary did not mention Kim Garam (the former member who resigned due to bullying scandals) and managed to cut her off almost seamlessly. Her presence was only noticeable for fractions of seconds; if someone were to watch the documentary without previous awareness of Kim Garam’s existence, they would not have suspected her absence. 

All in all, the girls of LE SSERAFIM showed us that they have so much to offer. They’ve persevered gracefully through lots of different struggles within themselves and as a team. “The world is my oyster” is a perfect way to describe the fearless group's attitude while taking over the K-Pop world.It is evident that all the girls have a love for their craft and are determined to achieve amazing things! This is only the beginning for them and they are off to a great start!

Edited by Kelly Sipko