Presenting the Queendom Puzzle Participants
Mnet has finally revealed all 26 contestants of Queendom Puzzle. Through four teams and the two tracks “Charismatic” and “SNAP,” the participants introduced their bids for a spot in a seven-member project group. “Charismatic” includes playful, charming vibes and “SNAP” aims for a cool and powerful girl crush image. Using two different concepts interpreted by 26 individuals, this preview is creating a buzz among girl group enthusiasts. Queendom Puzzle’s first episode airs on June 13 at 10 p.m. KST.
Cherry Bullet’s Jiwon, Bora, and Chaerin
Cherry Bullet adds another survival show appearance with Queendom Puzzle. Though this is Chaerin’s first time, this marks Jiwon and Bora’s second appearance on an Mnet survival show. The two previously participated in Girls Planet 999, where they were eliminated in the second round and final round, respectively. Bora also made it to the finals of the vocalist survival show V-1 in 2019, and as the homebody Jipsunhui in GIRL’S RE:VERSE earlier this year.
Cherry Bullet debuted in 2019 with their first single album Let’s Play Cherry Bullet and the title track “Q&A.” They promoted their third EP Cherry Dash this March with the title track “P.O.W! (Play On the World).” Outside of K-Pop, drama watchers might recognize Chaerin from small roles in Love Revolution and Under the Queen’s Umbrella. She recently appeared as Oh Young in Pandora: Beneath the Paradise and as Lulu in Netflix’s XO, Kitty.
H1-KEY’s Riina and Hwiseo
By bringing Riina and Hwiseo, H1-KEY hopes to blossom on Queendom Puzzle. The group debuted last year with “ATHLETIC GIRL,” and Hwiseo joined for their first comeback “RUN.” Their most recent title track, “Rose Blossom,” which garnered attention in South Korea and internationally, discusses perseverance against all odds.
Riina first appeared on PRODUCE48 in 2018 under her given name Lee Seunghyun. Though she was eliminated in the first round, she continued working towards her dream of becoming an idol. She now thrives as Riina and is ready, with Hwiseo, to show H1-KEY’s talents.
MOMOLAND’s JooE and Weki Meki’s Elly
The industry welcomed former MOMOLAND member JooE in 2016 when the group released “JJan! Koong! Kwang!” Most famous for the 2018 hit “BBoom BBoom,” MOMOLAND filled their discography with fun tracks up until their disbandment this last February. JooE’s appearance on Queendom Puzzle comes six months after wrapping up her time on another survival show, JTBC’s The Second World. She applied her skills to songs such as “Decaffeine” and “NOW,” which resulted in a fourth place ranking.
Elly made her debut as a member of Weki Meki in 2017 with WEME and “I don’t like your Girlfriend.” Weki Meki’s utilization of their teen crush concept crafted an early look at a trend that gained a resurgence in the coming years. Though Weki Meki’s most recent comeback happened in late 2021, Elly met GIRL’S RE:VERSE viewers this year as the character WATCHISWATCH.
LIGHTSUM’s Sangah and PURPLE K!SS’ Yuki
LIGHTSUM’s Sangah and PURPLE K!SS’s Yuki join Queendom Puzzle as idol rappers from 2021 girl group debuts. Sangah debuted with LIGHTSUM’s cute “Vanilla” single, but the group also delved into other concepts with the powerful elegance of “VIVACE” and the lively teen crush of “ALIVE.” Despite the differing concepts, Sangah’s cool aura makes itself known during her rap portions.
Yuki entered the K-Pop scene with PURPLE K!SS’s debut EP INTO VIOLET and the title track “Ponzona.” PURPLE K!SS takes eeriness and includes it in their discography. Yuki adds punch to their music with her many self-written raps, which can be heard in “Ponzona” and other releases like their pre-debut single “My Heart Skip a Beat” and their latest title track “Sweet Juice.”
Rocket Punch’s Juri, Suyun, and Yeonhee
Rocket Punch enters the ring with its members Juri, Suyun, and Yeonhee. Survival show aficionados will recognize both Juri and Suyun from their time on PRODUCE48 and GIRL’S RE:VERSE. PRODUCE 48 featured Juri as a member of AKB48, while Suyun and fellow Rocket Punch member Sohee participated as Woollim Entertainment trainees. On GIRL’S RE:VERSE, Juri portrayed Rose, the fiery child of a beauty and a beast, and Suyun portrayed Hiroo, a girl who experiences the present after being frozen since the year 2000.
The group made their debut in 2019 with the EP PINK PUNCH and the bouncy, poppy title track “BIM BAM BUM.” Yeonhee serves as the leader of the group, which has since released four EPs and two singles. Their most recent work, FLASH, came out in August last year.
tripleS’ Seoyeon and Jiwoo
Seoyeon and Jiwoo represent the newest and largest group out of the lineup, the 24-member group tripleS. After assembling its initial lineup of 10 members, tripleS debuted in February with the EP ASSEMBLE and the title track “Rising.” The group wishes to create multiple subunits as it adds its members throughout their career.
Seoyeon and Jiwoo form parts of the sub-unit +(KR)ystal Eyes, which debuted earlier this month with the EP [AESTHETIC]. The title track “Cherry Talk” carries a social media theme with its focus on texting and emojis to convey love. +(KR)ystal Eyes follows the group’s first sub-unit, Acid Angel from Asia, which introduced tripleS prior to their official debut. Seoyeon will debut in tripleS’ third sub-unit LOVElution later this year.
Weeekly’s Soojin, Soeun, Jihan, and Zoa
Weeekly sends the most members to the show with four. After Monday and Jaehee’s appearances on GIRL’S RE:VERSE, Soojin, Soeun, Jihan, and Zoa’s participation means survival shows for everyone this year. Prior to their debut, Soojin and Soeun participated in the YG survival show MIXNINE. Soojin starred as the female center for the show’s theme song, “JUST DANCE.”
Weeekly debuted in 2020 with We are and the title track “Tag Me (@Me).” Their debut year highlighted bright concepts through songs like the popular hit “After School” and the cute summer track “Holiday Party.” Their most recent EP, 2022’s Play Game : AWAKE, focused on a girl crush concept with its title track “Ven para” and the promoted B-side “Solar.”
Previous Queendom Participants Dohwa, Kei, and Yeoreum
Dohwa (formerly Chanmi of AOA) and Kei, former competitors on the first season of Queendom, appear alongside a member from the winning group of Queendom 2, Yeoreum from WJSN. Prior to any of these shows, their respective groups attained prominence in the K-Pop industry.
Dohwa, as part of AOA, debuted in 2012 with Angels’ Story, which features the track “ELVIS.” 2014 contained some of the biggest hits of their career: “Miniskirt,” “Short Hair,” and “Like a Cat.” Their popularity remained strong with the video game-themed “Bingle Bangle” in 2019, which was released a few months before Queendom. AOA placed sixth in Queendom, and the EP NEW MOON from that November remains their last. Dohwa appeared in GIRL’S RE:VERSE as Dohwa — not the idol, but a pink-haired manhwa girl — where she expressed wanting to start her solo career with that name.
Kei debuted as Lovelyz’s main vocalist in 2014 with Girls’ Invasion and the sweet title track “Candy Jelly Love.” She branched into solo work in 2019, where she promoted under her given name, Kim Jiyeon. Over and Over and its calming title track “I Go” featured Kei’s beautiful singing. Lovelyz participated in Queendom that same year, and placed fourth overall. The group is on hiatus after departing from Woolim Entertainment in 2021, but they held a reunion last year for their eighth anniversary.
Yeoreum shows up ready for more after WJSN took home the crown in last year’s Queendom 2. Separate from group and sub-unit activities, Yeoreum appears solo this time. Yeoreum debuted as part of WJSN in 2016 with WOULD YOU LIKE? and its dual title tracks “Mo Mo Mo” and “Catch Me.” In 2020, Yeoreum joined other members Luda, Soobin, and Dayoung in the wacky and fun sub-unit WJSN Chocome.
woo!ah!’s Nana and Wooyeon
woo!ah! wishes to wow viewers with its members Nana and Wooyeon. They debuted in 2020 with EXCLAMATION and a title track bearing the group’s name. woo!ah! last released music in November, with the single album Pit-a-Pat and title track “Rollercoaster.”
In addition to group activities, Nana and Wooyeon work in other ventures as well. Just like how Nana helps woo!ah! as their leader, she guides viewers by hosting MBC’s Show Champion with Billlie’s Moon Sua and Tsuki. Wooyeon holds acting credits for Live On and Revenge of Others.
Soloists Fye, Miru, and Yeeun
Thai soloist Fye (also known as Fyeqoodgurl) joins Queendom Puzzle in an unexpected reveal. Fye originally debuted in AKB48’s Thai sister group BNK48 in 2017, before her departure in 2021. She released a Korean version of her latest single “Pom Pom” in January, which includes Korean lyrics penned by Fye alongside Krystal Jung. Fye is also known for her YouTube covers of K-Pop songs like NewJeans’ “Hype Boy” and “Ditto.”
Miru, on the other hand, promoted with AKB4’s Osaka sister group NMB48 from 2011–2021. She made her solo debut under Universal Music Japan last year with the single “Shine Bright.” Queendom Puzzle will be Miru’s first appearance in the Korean entertainment industry since participating in Mnet’s PRODUCE48, where she placed 20th.
CLC’s former main rapper Yeeun rounds out the Queendom Puzzle roster. This is Yeeun’s second Mnet survival show appearance after Good Girl in 2020. On the show she gave a sampler of solo performances through “Barbie” and “Mermaid.” Under SuperBell Company, Yeeun eventually made her solo debut with The Beginning and its title track “Cherry Coke” in April.
Edited by Omani