Malaysia boleh: The country's first female K-pop idol is leading new girl group Kiiras
Lingling of Kiiras is billed as the first female K-pop idol from Malaysia.
SINGAPORE – South-east Asians have been making their mark in K-pop girl groups of late, like those from Thailand (Blackpink's Lisa, I-dle's Minnie, Babymonster's Pharita and Chiquita, Kiss of Life's Natty), the Philippines ( Katseye's Sophia , Unis' Elisia and Gehlee) and Indonesia (Hearts2Hearts' Carmen, Secret Number's Dita).
Now, Malaysia also has a female K-pop idol to call its own.
Lingling, whose real name is Wong Ling Ling , is the leader and oldest member of new South Korean girl group Kiiras .
The 20-year-old, who is the sextet's main rapper and sub-vocalist, is billed as the first female K-pop idol from Malaysia.
Together with South Koreans Harin, Kylie, Doyeon and Roah, as well as Kurumi from Japan, Kiiras debuted on May 29 with the American country music -influenced pop and hip-hop single Kill Ma Bo$.
Lingling is proud to fly her country's flag in an increasingly diversified K-pop scene.
During an interview at the Mandala Club on July 29 to promote Kiiras' debut, she said: 'Being a K-pop idol has always been my dream, and my Malaysian fans have been so supportive. I feel very happy. But because I am the first, I want to do more, so others can see their potential too, and can also become K-pop idols.'
Yet, there is some pressure. 'Being a leader is not easy. Sometimes it is stressful, when the other members don't listen to me. But this motivates me to do better.'
Her bandmates, however, were quick to lavish praise on Lingling. The six girls are based in Seoul, where they live together in a dormitory.
Youngest member Roah, 13, said: 'She is kind, charismatic, cute and pretty. An all-rounder.'
Lingling's former roomate Harin, 17, added: 'She leads the team practices and is always on time. When we shared a room, I was never late.'
And Kurumi, 19, who is the second-eldest, chimed in: 'She is the only one older than me, so I consider her my older sister.'
South Korean girl group Kiiras, consisting of (clockwise, from top left) Doyeon, Kylie, Harin, Kurumi, Roah, Lingling and Harin (centre), at the Mandala Club on July 29.
PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
Kiiras is set to perform in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 1, their first live show outside of South Korea. They will take the stage during music event The Music Journey 2 Roadshow at the University of Wollongong Malaysia.
Lingling is thrilled about her homecoming. 'I have always wanted to perform in Malaysia,' she said. 'And my family will watch the show too.'
Her parents own a business in Malaysia and she has a younger sister, a 19-year-old university student.
The other Kiiras members have not visited Malaysia before, and are excited to tuck into dishes such as bak kut teh and nasi goreng.
South Korean girl group Kiiras will be making their first live performance outside South Korea in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 1.
PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
If time permits, Lingling might even show them around, with one possible attraction being the Batu Caves, which will be 'very hot', but would make a wonderful backdrop for their TikTok videos.
Born in the city of Klang in the state of Selangor, she attended Hin Hua High School and idolised K-pop girl group Twice for their 'bright and high-energy' performances. 'I want to be just like them.'
At age 17, Lingling participated in South Korean entertainment company YG Entertainment's global audition in Malaysia. She made the cut and became a trainee.
Four months later, she moved to another agency, WakeOne, and participated in the K-pop reality survival show I-Land 2 (2024), which concluded with the creation of the girl group Izna.
Lingling was born in the city of Klang in the state of Selangor, and attended Hin Hua High School there.
PHOTO: KIIRAS OFFICIAL/FACEBOOK
As the show's only South-east Asian contestant, Lingling could speak multiple languages – Mandarin, Malay, English and Korean – but was eliminated in the seventh episode.
She then signed with South Korean entertainment agency LeanBranding , and was announced as the first member of Kiiras in April.
Reflecting on her ouster from I-Land 2, she said: 'It is a blessing in disguise, because it led me to Kiiras. And I feel that this group suits me more, because we have a younger vibe. It is fate .'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- Straits Times
South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Song Young-kyu built a steady acting career over three decades, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films. SEOUL – South Korean actor Song Young-kyu was found dead on Aug 4 in a parked vehicle in Yongin city, Gyeonggi Province, the police said. He was 55. The authorities said there were no signs of foul play. An investigation is ongoing, with plans to question family members to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. The veteran actor, best known for his supporting role as the gruff squad chief in the box-office hit Extreme Job (2019), had been under scrutiny since late July, when it was revealed he had been arrested for drink driving on June 19. Police said Song drove about 5km in Yongin with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent – above the legal threshold for licence revocation. The case had been forwarded to prosecutors and was awaiting indictment. In the wake of the incident, Song was dropped from two high-profile dramas currently in production – The Defects and The Winning Try – as well as the stage play Shakespeare In Love. Such swift removals are common in South Korea's entertainment industry, where public figures are held to strict moral standards. Following his 1994 debut, Song built a steady acting career over three decades, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films. He was known to international audiences for his roles in Netflix series Narco-Saints (2022) and Disney+ series Big Bet (2022 to 2023). He is survived by his wife and two daughters, according to Yonhap News Agency. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Helplines Mental well-being National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Blackpink exceeds 1b views with ‘Pink Venom' music video
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Blackpink performed in Paris over the weekend for their Deadline world tour. South Korean multinational entertainment agency, YG Entertainment announced on Aug 4 that Blackpink's video for 'Pink Venom' has reached 1 billion views on YouTube, becoming the group's ninth music video to do so. The video reached the milestone in about three years and set a new record for female artists, generating over 90 million plays within 24 hours of its release. 'Pink Venom' was a pre-release track from the group's second album, 'Born Pink.' It topped the iTunes Top Songs chart in 81 regions, and claimed the 22nd spot on both Billboard's Hot 100 and the UK's Official Singles Top 100. The hip-hop tune racked up 100 million Spotify streams in 17 days, as did its most recent single, 'Jump,' last week. Blackpink performed in Paris over the weekend for their world tour, 'Deadline' and will visit Milan and Barcelona, Spain, before wrapping up the tour's European leg in London. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Vogue Singapore
3 hours ago
- Vogue Singapore
Here's why Ultherapy Prime is the new gold standard
In the year 2025, a quiet phenomenon is unfolding amongst the glitterati of Hollywood: our favourite celebrities and stars are ageing backwards. Recall the discernible differences to the visages of Jennifer Lawrence, Demi Moore, and Kris Jenner over the last few months; a shift that is subtle and precise in its adjustments. Facial features appear more proportionate than before. There is a newfound definition to the jaw and chin area. And, most noticeably, the decolletage area is out on full display, showcasing a smooth expanse of skin free of lines and wrinkles. And while speculation remains rife as to the exact procedure responsible for such results, it is comes as no surprise that many suspect it to be this highly-revered, non-invasive skin lifting treatment. Enter Ultherapy Prime. Much like its predecessor, Ultherapy Prime boasts plenty of the same benefits—except equipped with further enhancements that make for even more tailored results. Ultherapy Prime utilises a new device and system that comes with a 35% larger screen, for one, which bolsters real-time imaging that allows for professionals to achieve hyper-exact tweaks. It comes with 10x faster processing power, so treatment times are 20% faster. Its visualisation tech targets collagen and elastin-rich layers only, making it particularly suitable for lifting the skin of smaller, more delicate areas. It comes as no surprise, then, that Ultherapy Prime's efficacious nature has drawn a positive reception from the K-Beauty industry specifically. Top advocates include entertainment bigwigs Lee Minho and Jun Ji-Hyun—both of whom were present at the campaign launch event in Seoul to talk about their experience with the treatment. Vogue Singapore sits down with the two artistes to find out more, from their skin-maintenance practices to their favourite mode of self-care. Lee Min Ho With your demanding schedule as a global icon, which aspect of self care do you prioritise most and why? My secret to a good self-care routine is doing Ultherapy Prime twice a year. Before, because of my job as an actor, I really wanted to resist doing any treatments on my face that would cause unnatural changes, so I tried to avoid any types of laser treatments. But Ultherapy Prime has become my most important routine in skincare. Other than that, I also do sheet masks every single day. As an actor you often face pressure to maintain your appearance. Yet, at the same time you are expected to grow and evolve with age to look more mature and step into more mature roles. How do you find the balance between maintaining your signature look and embracing natural changes over time? I believe that everybody has their own charm, and I think everyone's biggest charm is really just about being your true self. Obviously, I am becoming older these days as well but I don't necessarily think that being old is a bad thing. At every age there is a unique charm—there is a unique aura, and a unique charisma that I want to have. You're good at ensuring that you're at your best condition. Can you share more on how you maintain yourself? I am pretty sure that everyone agrees with me, but how you release stress is the most important thing these days. And as you live your busy life, you are bound to get stressed in any other way, so learning how to release stress in your own way is really important. And for me, whenever I face challenges, I really focus on how to solve these problems, so I try to not get stressed too much and also I take a lot of [sleep] as well. Jun Ji-Hyun With your demanding schedule as a global icon, what aspect of skincare do you prioritise most and why? I make a conscious effort to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle by eating well and with quality ingredients. I believe that staying physically and mentally healthy is the key to staying grounded, even when facing challenges. What is one beauty or wellness secret that you have that you wished more people knew about? I believe that staying true to my own path and embracing it with confidence is the key to creating my own true sense of beauty. How does Ultherapy Prime empower people that want to continually look their best at any age? The greatest strength of Ultherapy Prime is that it empowers each person to take control of their own journey. By offering personalised lifting options, it enables more proactive self care, helping people of all ages maintain their most natural beauty and confidence. Try Ultherapy Prime at certified Ultherapy clinics.
