The KPOP idol who faked her ENTIRE identity...
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Hey guys, I'm back with a long video! Today, we will be covering on of kpop's strangest controversies, the story of Lee Gai. Lee Gai was an idol who managed to join Baby V.O.X (one of the top first generation Kpop girl groups) as their newest member in 1998. That was... until fans discovered the shocking truth about her real age, identity and history. As it turns out, not only was she 10 years older than her supposed age, she had also already been in the industry for almost a decade AND had debuted over 3 times prior to joining BabyVOX! So how and why did she fool the entire nation, and how did she get exposed? Keep watching to find out!
Video sponsored by Kloot Box! Shop your KPOP subscription box at: www.klootbox.com?aff=270 (Use Code PLOOPY678 for 5% off!) | klootbox
Also wanted to give a shoutout to other awesome videos about Lee Gai:
Midnight Theories: • Forced To Lie About He... (She goes more in depth into the history of dance troupes like Setorae)
Weekly Weird Kpop: • The 20 Year Old Kpop I... (I actually found out about this whole story thanks to this video!)
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Hey guys I'm back! Well... to be precise I have actually been posting tons of dance videos on UA-cam shorts recently (be sure to check them out if you haven't already 💕), but I'm finally back with a long video! It has been ages but trust me... this story is worth the wait!
Thanks to Kloot Box for sponsoring this video! Shop your KPOP subscription box at: www.klootbox.com?aff=270 (Use Code PLOOPY678 for 5% off!) | instagram.com/klootbox
Also wanted to give a shoutout to other awesome videos about Lee Gai:
- Midnight Theories: ua-cam.com/video/4tCm9-WmHKQ/v-deo.html&ab_channel=MidnightTheories (She goes more in depth into the history of dance troupes like Setorae)
- Weekly Weird Kpop: ua-cam.com/video/UZToh16EqWg/v-deo.html&ab_channel=WeeklyWeirdKpop (I actually found out about this whole story thanks to this video!)
I’m ready for part 3 of the Rania/BP Rania/BLACKSWAN saga!
I’m so happy your back!!
Welcome back Ploopy!
Meep Meep
I am so happy to hear another story from DR Music the saga
Being in your 20's is not old, people need to stop saying 20's is old, this is the best age to debut as a singer
Ikr this is what the toxic kpop industry is, anyone in their late 20s is considered old
@@tharntypesdaughter I know, these stupid b*tches always have this mindset, look at the 1st Gen artists from 1996 to 1999, they're all in their 40's and are still active, Kahi from After School debut at 29, Park Bom and Dara debut at 25, 5/6 T-ara members debut at their 20's Jiyeon was the only teenager at that time, they're still active, artists from 3rd Generation all debut in their 20's, Blackswan all debut in their mid 20's, Youngheun also spoke up about it, they're just people chasing after their dreams, this is why minors should debut at a later age instead in their teenage years, this why I love groups who debut in their 20's
@@tharntypesdaughter atp anyone who is 20 and above is old. i’ve seen it
@@lesbianslipknotfan fuck I’m old I just turned 20 a month ago. Honestly it’s sad that I’ve seen 03 and 04 liners saying they are “too old to debut” it’s like girl you just turned 18 a few months ago this should be your prime time where every company is _fighting_ just to have you sign with them. Not aging out of it. That should be for those 25 and older. Anything 23 and under is still young (that’s literally an 00 liner).
@@tharntypesdaughter not even late 20s. I saw someone calling Boynextdoor old 💀. I’m older than every member (by a tad bit) and the eldest are 19 🤡. Maknae is literally 16. What are they asking for? 12 year olds?
It's not like Lee Gai was even youthful looking for a 30 year old. They should have simply said she was 25 and ran with it. To say she was 20 and put her next to 16 year olds was just downright begging to be busted.
absolutely, people can be deceived but the public isn't stupid.
I came here to write this. They were so, so stupid
Yeah 22 at minimum.
@@SweetforS she looked way older than 22 though 😅. That company has a long track record of making the worst decisions
@@SweetforS omg hi wav!
I feel terrible for her. Imagine facing so much ageism when you're only 30, being forced to pose as 20, and then being replaced by a 15yo by the company who put you in this situation...
exactly! it's disgusting behaviour
Ikr it’s ridiculous!!!!!
I think the biggest villain here is the company. How long did they think they could keep passing a 30 year old as a 20 year old with sunglasses and makeup for? The whole 7 year contract they were gonna do that? They knew that eventually the jig would be up and they CERTAINLY knew that the public would tear that poor girl apart.
They probably didn't expect the group to last 3 years. Cash in and cash out.
People don't get wrinkles at 37-38 anyways, she could pass for being younger with the right skin care routine
Woman
Biggest villain here is korean public who bashed her first group for just appearing in a dance collab with boy group. How fked up in the head they have to be to do this to someone who was just entertaining them.
@@therealgrimreaper68 also I think if they gave her a different hairstyle she could also look younger !! The short hair didn't suit her
This wasn't her fault, it was the company's idea to lie about her age. She was hardworking. Hope she's living a good life.
I probably have a Western perspective bias, but I respect Lee Gai for this. She reinvented herself 3 times, continued to work in the industry behind the scenes, and only came back to the stage when her company needed her to guide a younger group despite thematically having no business there. In American entertainment ages are always swept under the rug so I put no blame on her. Also I think the tinted glasses even indoors is a cool gimmick.
I agree! I don't think it's her fault. I think it's just the company who went too ambitious with her age by calling her a 20 yr old when tbh she looked 25+
Right the lead singer from E.L.O has worn sunglasses for decades, I'm not even sure I've seen his actual eyes, and I seem to remember the instrument playing half of the pet shop boys also wore glasses he never took off.
It definitely is (the glasses) and I feel like that would’ve been pretty normal in the 90s lol. I mean at least probably in American culture lol. Then again. I wasn’t born until the 21st century so all I can judge by is vague memory of tv shows about the late 80s-early 00s.
I agree,i feel bad for the people who just try again and again and again,come back numerous times just to be flopped and unnoticed by public,it's really not fair.
Yes, I'm sure this is coming from a place of not caring about kpop the way hardcore fans do, but I would have viewed this as hilarious story if she was not actually removed from the group with that story of being in such dire financial situation. Like, if one of girls in a kpop group I liked lied about her age, I would view it as a little sad and... too ambitious, not a great betrayal that requires her to be fired. But I guess I have different mindset.... And also I am 30 years old.
30 is a good age for a dancer. Odds are she just wasn't trained as much in dance as others, with her speciality being vocal, piano and songwriting. They just needed a dancey group they could rush out the door and so that happened.
Right? You've got world class footballers playing well into their 30s these days. 30 is within the human prime.
Also there are a lot of kpop idols near or in their 30s who can do hard, fast pasted choreographys
Yes, definitely this. I'm 28 and very often 15 year olds aren't able to keep up with ME 🤣 That's because I've been a dancer since age 6 and in constant training, that makes the difference
But wasn’t she originally in a dancing group? Lol when she made her first debut in 1988 it was a dance group. But it was probably a different style and I guess once out of practice it could be harder and it’s always a known fact that younger people learn quicker so they probably surpassed her abilities making her look rlly rough around the edges.
@@mrjoe5292 yeah I would say 27/28 is the prime and then everything after that is probably a downwards turn but the slope is slight in the first few years maybe even decade. Once at 40, it starts picking up its speed lol.
I highly respect her.. She truly never ever gave up. She's a very strong woman who kept trying her, despite being stomped, put in failure for so many times...
Word. The way she reinvent herself to debut 3 times is impressive especially during those older eras.
the kpop industry has always been prejudice to the older ones.. I’m lowkey mad about that because why do these companies have to debut literal 14 year olds in a group where they don’t know nothing about this world instead of mature grown ups who have been through life, and can speak for themselves. I feel bad for lee gai I hope she is well though.
You have to blame the fans, not the industry. If there was a demand for 70 year old idols dancing in pigtails, I can guarantee you would see it, but there isn't a demand for that. The entertainment industry will cater to whatever the fans are willing to financially support.
@Snooper Slooth that's not the whole story though, every single kpop fan is not asking for children to debut, the main problem is society's obsessed with youth and believing the younger you are the more valuable/pretty you are.
@@ghostofmisao.Yes, you are so right with society being hyperobsessed with youth. They are not being realistic because you're only in your teens and young adulthood for just 2 decades. We have another 60-70 years of life left, so it baffles me whenever they say a womn is over her prime years once 3 0. The ageism is sickening.
I think it’s both. Kpop fans keep sending the wrong message by making these groups with minors popular so companies will only cater to demand.
@@snooperslooth2795 but 70 isnt even close to 30. And you can be sure that at least now, in 2023 term, there would be PLENTY of people willing to support a group of say girls aged 22-28 maybe even with an oldest member at 30. Just because there is a huge market for people aged 14-20 doesn’t mean there aren’t others who are themselves in their 20s and older who are looking for groups closer to their age and who can handle mature concepts without it being minors doing things inappropriate for their age. Look at how well mamadol was received and I would’ve loved for it to be permanent or at least last say 2-3 years. Even if the schedules were minimal due to them all being mothers. And look at who some of the most popular ggs have been in the last few years, there’s been a trend: Blackpink a 4 members aged 19-21 at debut, Aespa 4 members aged 18-20 at debut, and now fifty fifty 4 members aged 18-20 at debut. I’m sure if you take that and added a few more years say 18/19 to 23, it would probably still work out. Little by little from there, people wouldn’t even notice debuting 25 years olds bc it would be perceived as “normal”.
It’s so crazy how fans will bash any idol above 23, but are upset and outraged when companies debut 15 year olds 🙄
Not everyone can be 18 years old at the same debut time lol. They are being unrealistic
they could've said she was 25 🤦🏽♀️
yeah, I guess they were being a bit too ambitious 😂
That’s exactly what I said right before I looked in the comments
Or just not lie about her age at all?
@@Ipromiseyounobodyismad well that's an option 😂 but 25 would've been the most believable
@@Ipromiseyounobodyismad the group might have fell then
Their treatment of Lee Hee Jung is shameful. She should have been celibrated for the work she did prior to Baby Vox, not forced to hide her identity.
I agree. They could’ve been like “we couldn’t find anyone more suitable for or lesser than Lee heejung who was our first artist and has worked very hard for her dreams. Please support her as the new member of baby vox.”
@@SweetforSthe fact she beat other people and got into the group is already an achieve,ent.
@@SweetforScause I mean look at the comments. Women are mean. The people who shame women the most are other women.
I agree. Say she was a great personality and beat every other candidate.
And look in kpop who are the only people that do tie after their bands kinda die? It’s the idols with very good personalities and entertainment value.
I wish they would just drop the age obsession especially for women. U don’t find interesting people like that.
@@acutelilmint8035 well she didn’t bc she was already signed to the agency many years before. Shit was also a lot easier back then. If you had the pretty privilege or some other connections, you’d be a shoe in. Still true now but it’s a LOT harder to debut bc there’s just so much competition now.
I always knew ageism is a thing but 30s don’t even seem that old? Maybe it’s cause I’m 23 and a lot of my idols are my age or older. Seems sad that she even had to lie about her age or that it mattered that much
People wanted young idols because the industry fanbase is young, it's about relatability and unobtainability when it comes to idols.
Well look at Irene or solar or Jin they are much popular individually then groups like Newjeans, Ive or pre debut group Baemon
It just shows that now Talent doesn't matter what matters is Visual it's either you're talented or not if you are in your 30
Like Jin, Solar and Irene looks so younger than their age and beautiful for sure
And see Chiquita is talented
but peoples hate cuz her visual not that they're jealous.
I think it’s the fact that she lied about her age..and she was in a group full of children. I think if she debuted with a group closer to her age maybe 20s-30s people wouldn’t care..however I admit that it’s weird to have a 30 year old women pretending to be 20..in a group full of 16 year olds.
@@Niki_thebear Jin, solar and Irene all look their age. 30 isn’t old
@@Niki_thebear the ones u mentioned ARE talented tho? Also they are members of very known groups of course they are popular individually as a result of that. I agree that in kpop visuals play a big role but look at it jin just turned 30 in December last year but got called old and pushing 30 when since he was only 25. Age shaming has been prevalent for him since his debut. I am sure it’s worse for women in the industry but since I am a fan of jin I speak of him only in this context.
The glasses definitely aged her. She looked younger without them. What a journey her career was.
also not to mention the acctually god awful curly pigtail hairstyle, honestly with no sunglasses and with her hair just down or something imo I think she could've passed as 20
@@lalastuffandthings i really love her look in the change mv, with the glasses and pigtails it really aged her!! The short hair without glasses, she could actually pass as 25. Those damn glasses are terrible tho😭
Literally 😂
!!!
@@mcblinglove fr
Dear youth: if you want to cultivate this belief that people in their 30s are old, prepare yourselves for an identity crisis in a decade.
Very well said
Seriously
Literally 💀. Cause I’m turning 30 in 9 years and 11 months and umm… yeah no I’m not gunna be old. Just “aged” like a fine wine 🍷
Considering that 70 is the life of expectancy these days, 30 is still childhood 💀
I'm 32 and trust me I would never be 29 or younger again even if I had the chance.
Sad that they couldn't just debut a generational concept with her as the leader. I mean this is kind of what GOT the beat is now.
I feel awful for her she just wanted her dream life with her dad and a singing career
Seeing my beautiful Solar and Moonbyul always bring a huge smile on my face. They went against the norm and even debuted a unit after both of them are over 30. Love it for them and for the entire of Mamamoo ❤
During 2nd and 3rd gen, a lot of idols in their 20s and mid 20s used to debut tho!
And on the contrary, it was pretty rare to see a minor in a group!
Most of the members were in their 20s.
I like Baby VOXes music, so I have done some digging myself. Apparently after their disbandment DR Music tried to revive the group under the name Baby Vox re.v, some spin off, the group failed to gain attention and soon disbanded.
Apparently Rania was supposed to be the 3rd version of Baby Vox, but DR soon rebranded them as Rania.
So we can safely assume that Baby Vox is still alive and now simply goes under the name of Blackswan
That's what I noticed as well, Baby Vox never REALLY disbanded
😀😧💀
There's a LOT more to it than that, but that is the gist. I'm a Kpop fan since gen1, and Baby Vox was what got me into Kpop, so I've always kept up with DR Muisc, and yeah. A mess. BlackSwan is essentially the spiritual successor to Baby Vox.
Damn…
NO WAY THIS RANIA THING GOES TO WAY BEFORE LMAOOOO
This kinda crazy... the company wanting her to literally act a decade younger as if that would convince anybody - they easily could've said she was 25. But poor Lee Gai finding success after so long only to have it stripped away because of ageism in the entertainment industry.
Why is ageism so strict🥺
REMEMBER: This video is about ‘ageism’ and ought to challenge viewers prejudice against aging women. What would have been so wrong with being 30? She never would have been allowed to perform. Her lie is completely understandable and I think everyone is way too obsessed with how old she is. How about acknowledging her ambition, talent and successful musical career?! The comments highlight the discrimination that women face and the unfairness of public opinion. Just remember: this discrimination affects all women, not just public figures. We only feel comfortable calling them out because we have silent prejudices that we won’t admit to ourselves. Criticizing celebrities is a safe place to loudly broadcast one’s own prejudice, which we may all be victims of at times.
I think it would be refreshing to have a kpop/musical group with "older" people, maybe performing music that's reminiscent of the past/their times. There's something about Lee Gai that gives her a different kind of youth. And I think it would be a great way to challenge ageism. I really enjoyed seeing the clips of her performing. Makes me think there might be other adults out there who would want to pursue this dream they might've had as children. It probably wouldn't happen for a number of reasons, but I'd like to think that it could :)
If there is a group like this that already exists, please let me know! I would love to check them out.
Refund Sisters is kinda like this… they were a project group with 4 members, one from each generation. I think they only have one song and it’s not reminiscent or nostalgic but it is badass and definitely challenges ageism. You should check it out if you haven’t already!
@@taliak8760 Just watched it and I really enjoyed it!!! Thanks for sharing :))
@@taliak8760 mamadol as well but they only lasted 8 days. I kinda hate that they won’t let them stay together. It’s just proving the point that ageism exists even in these cases bc it’s like “aww here fans it’s what you wanted women in their 30s getting to confidently own the stage but… ohh you only get a week of it” as if they are not worthy to have a full time career. Oh well there’s a group named Babys (ironically) that’s debuting in a few days and both members are in their 30s. Wonder what it will sound like.
@@maylinegarcia3357 if you haven’t got the notif from my comment to the other person, read my comment above for more. You could probably also look up groups with the oldest avg age to see if any of em are still active and/or have what you’re looking for.
xeed's members are in their late 20s early 30s. they debuted last year
As someone who knew nothing about the early days of Baby VOX, i would say she lookd around 27-29 yo (based on her physical appearance). Tbh, the glasses she wore kinda age her a little more.
No one is calling her ahjumma because she looks 27-29. Lee gai literally looked like she could be 35 years old. Nayeon and jisoo are 28. Lee gai looks nothing like them.
!!!
@@hzzn okay so? she still looks 27-28 for that time, before the way they used makeup focused on their features so they actually look their age, if you look at the average 28 year old in google they wont look like nayeon or jisoo
Lets normalize ADULTS pursuing their dreams not juveniles who should go to school
You REALISE that, young people have dreams and they wanna achieve it soon as possible. Also when adults dance and stuff, there are people commenting “I don’t want old ass women and men shaking their ass” when they’re 27-28 yrs olds. If you want to normalize adults pursuing their dreams then what about super junior? Don’t tell me they’re “too old” when they are still ADULTS! Plus adults don’t really tend to have dreams of being idols as they grown up and start giving up and they also don’t work hard like a young person would! And young I mean 14-17 yrs olds are versatile and fast learners, that’s why companies want them.
@@Ari..0x27-28 isnt even old …
@@Ari..0x Realistically, entertainment companies want younger people because it’ll be easier to manipulate and exploit them. Literally the whole entertainment industry is based off companies taking advantage of their artists & doing whatever they can for revenue.. Children should not be exposed to this kind of business, not even if it’s their dream.
@@makesparkzflyyeah you say that but not all fans agree including internationally and kstans! IMO even 30 yr olds are completely fine as long as they’re talented enough but not everyone sees it same
@@unvitals Right I do agree with you but not all companies are alike but ig they do manipulate as I’ve never really experienced it. But I’m just trying to express my point from the comments above how the way they see their view isn’t what everyone sees it!
She's remarkable, because she possibly had the longest career a k-pop idol could have.
If we just accepted 30 year olds being active in the music industry then we wouldn't even have this scandal.
Girl with Blackswan you'll have a never ending story 😭 with all the mess, the videos just writes themselves... just wait until things get messy again lmao its a matter of time
Just when I thought that it was over!
she's already done videos on rania/blackswan,, i watched them when she released them but when i rewatched them a couple months later there'd already been a lineup change, and theres been ANOTHER change since 😭😭 its so crazy
Black swan is messed up
Honestly, the best option for BlackSwan right now is disbanding tbh especially after all that mess. I want to see them rebrand with new concept and group name and under new agency instead.
@@absolutelynotellen have you not seen there new song. They're killing it with the new members.
As a 30-year-old... 30 is not old. Not even close. You don't look old or seem old but you're more experienced and harder to control/take advantage of than young, vulnerable teens.
Something very interesting is that DR lied about former member Yumi's age. Making here the third oldest when she was actually the maknae of the group. She also didn't feel respected because she was from the United States and the company didn't take care about her so she left
Not only that but I checked thier profile and two other members are also listed as being 80 liners when both are born in 1979. Waaaay too many lies there.
@@SweetforS Oh yeah. Back then in Kpop It was very normal to lie a little bit about your age. Annie from Tashannie who was supposed to be in Fin.K.l confessed that the company wanted to lie about her age when she was only 20...
And also. Former NRG told one of my friends that the agency changed his age (I think like 4 o 5 years or even a little bit less or a little bit more)
Lee Gai isn’t the bad guy it’s DR Entertainment and K-pop industry in general are the bad guys.
I’m so happy to see a long format video on this. I have heard about her and done some of my own research in the past but it’s still hard to put together fully.
i feel sorry for her tbh.. i mean it was wrong to lie but now im worried where she is.. hope she is okay
Lee Gai is amazing. She is like Mulan, who lied about her gender to attempt to help her father, but succeeded in breaking free of society’s oppressive norms regarding a woman’s rights.
This is why groups like Newjeans debuted. Companies are debuting children thinking that they are “old enough” to debut, but enter Blackpink for example; none of the girls were children when they debuted, and they were perfectly old enough to debut, but not too old. I mean Lisa and Jisoo were 19 and 21 respectively, but no one called them “aunties”, and rightfully so.
I feel bad for Heejung because she didn’t deserve to give up for being 30. The fact that she was replaced by a child is not okay. You are exploiting children at this point. If this was not the reason why idols such as Jungkook and Seohyun debuted, then I don’t know what it is anymore.
Edit: But wait, there is more. I’m glad Fifty Fifty exists because there is still hope for adults to debut more and more
Jealous so much?
❤
but that child turned out to be Yoon Eun-hye (Princess Hours, Coffee Prince) so it turned out ok if not the best.
@@kanamirever I love Jungkook, but I feel like he had struggles when he was a trainee and during the early years of BTS
@@Tinykooandmikey yeah he said he was basically raised by BTS which makes me think he can’t help but have missed his family. I mean moving away at 13? That’s pretty tough especially when you think about the fact that Bighit ent was basically broke back in those days and the glam scandal happening right around the time of their debut and rookies days definitely didn’t help that.
honestly i love blackswan’s new lineup (rooting for sriya and the members) and they’re doing pretty good. i mean (i think) they get along usually…and by book knowledge of what kpop is, even though they’re all foreigners, they’re still making korean music, speaking korean and living in korea…so they’re pretty much a kpop grp. hopefully they do well..i’m rooting for them
Her wearing those glasses and beanies is like scooby-doo wearing a dress and a hat as a ‘disguise’. 💀💀
Honestly, props to her, respect to her, reinventing yourself 3 times is really crazy... I hope she has a happy life right now, living happy and healthy...
Yg: you're 28 your a bit old
yg you should not be talking 50 year old man debuting minors😐✋ the retirement home is down the street.
LMAOO😭😭😭
Preach it home queen
We'll just act like he didn't groom his underage artist for marriage, so of course that girl is too old for his tastes
@@tipennyaHOLD UP WHAT
Not gonna lie, Lee Gai always seemed so cute 💖
Wow..I never knew about this. What a pity that her career never panned out multiple times. I've been a fan of Baby Vox since 2002/2003 in my early teens and can't imagine any prior lineup.
Wasnt it a big shock for you when you found out she was 30?
@@Insertname98 I mean, I found out through this video and didn't know about Baby Vox when she was briefly in it. I'm pretty desensitized to kpop's ratchetness so I'm not too shocked lol. She did look discernibly older though.
I feel so bad for her, she didn't deserve to be bullied
Poor Lee Gai just wanted to help her father, I feel so bad. The company made her re-debut to many times, it kinda warn her out. I feel terrible for her, I just want news if her and her father is alright
True story-- one time when i was 24 a girl came up to me in mall and offered to pay me 300 USD to help her with a girl group she was pitching to a talent agent but her friends had not showed up. I said "What do I have to do" and she said "Nothing, just be nice. I will fo the talking". So as I sat in this awkward interview, they point at me and say Im 14. I was shocked and prayed for them not to take photos or anything. Then she paid me and I left never to see them again. I had nightmares for weeks. 😂😂😂
I need to know more about this story.
Okay this is crazy, I'm setting up camp here in hopes that you'll tell us your story haha
So what happened after that?
The minute I found out she joined DR, I knew her chance at success was over, as someone who has been following Rania/Black Swan since around the Alex Era. That company is a hot mess and I couldn't help but laugh when Ploopy said she's wanting for something to go down before doing a new video on them, LMAO. Yes, something WILL indeed go down sooner rather than later.
I wouldn't even be surprised if they actually wanted to throw Lee Gai in Black Swan (assuming she's still in DR, which I do truly doubt is the case, all things considered). I mean, they do need a Korean member at this point. 🤣
Well blackswan is actually doing extremely well right now. They have been doing very good to come from a small company with a small fan base. They hit top 10 on several Korean, Indian, and Chinese charts with their song Karma.
@@Clearskies3848 it’s DR, their groups have been doing well several times and then something stupid happens
@@thethingcalledlisa hopefully Dr continued to do better. Ever sense the change in management they have been excelling
Lee Hee Jung is 55 now 😨
As someone who casually followed Rania since around their debuted, whenever they were close to hitting it big, something happened. And with the constant member changes and rebranding/renaming the group, I'm not surprised they've never hit it big. It's not the girls' fault, it's just an unwritten rule in kpop that groups that undergo lineup changes rarely become successful beyond being one-hit wonders.
I feel so bad for Lee Gai she tried so many times but failed☹️
It's kind of horrifying...like a train wreck...that DR Music has been playing musical chairs with group members for THIS LONG and still isn't bankrupt.
Lee Gai does look like 30, I am sorry whoever saying she has youth visual and all, that's not true, she clearly does look like 30. It wasn’t her fault, it’s company's fault.
Man, this is a crazy story. You always find the most random and interesting things! ❤
This is absolutely sad and horrific that women are only considered attractive when they are younger. Who cares what her age was? If she can perform a song and dance and actually has real talent, then who cares how old or young she is? It's sad how society puts an emphasis on looks and age with women, but men don't have to live up to the same standards. It's honestly disgusting. I would have faked my age and identity too instead of being told that I'm too old to perform my passion/talent.
That's one of the things I don't like about K-pop. Debuting kids and retired them in their 30's and late 20's. In my opinion, they should debut people who are above 18 and now also it is hard for me to see idols who are in their 30's fading away from the limelight.
lol, this is not surprsing at all...
Kpops "if she's not a teen, she's not a queen" policy 🤮
The fact they act like she’s 60 or something like there’s so much praise for groups with all adult members especially if they were born in the 90s
tbh after discovering how the industry negatively impacts their mental well-being, i'm in favour of idols keeping their identity secret.
it's ESPECIALLY harder on those younger, it's unforgiving
Interesting video! I remember hearing about Lee Gai briefly during a Baby Vox deep dive on the podcast Ask Me About Kpop, but it was great to hear a more in-depth version of her story!
bro she’s really the victim in this situation~ sad to see
Something I love about your videos is that you don't over exaggerate the pictures for the videos, so when I click on your videos, I know that the title is what I'm clicking on!!! Keep up the great work!
DR Music has really been out here mistreating their artists for decades
How is this company still afloat even after all these failures? I bet they have other shady business that actually generate revenue. And that's scary for their artists. These small companies are largely unmonitored and are most likely to take "shortcuts," which involves having their artists "accompany" some bigwigs.
@@iagreewithyou3478 it's confirmed that it's because of shady business lol
@@Chris-ot9bk who confirmed it?
@@reaverlene everybody who worked in DR lol
BABY VOX I KNEW IT!
Thank you for talking about this Queen!
of course it's the same company as rania/blackswan...what a hot mess of a company they are
tbh this woman seems cool, i actually like the image she created for herself. also i hope that in future there will appear more kpop groups where all members will be well in their 20s(or even 30s) at the time of debut, the ageism in kpop is a serious problem that needs to be fought
Hiiii Ploopy, thank you for a new upload we missed you 💞
I've actually been posting more than ever! But I've mostly been posting dance videos on my UA-cam shorts! If you haven't seen it yet then be sure to check it out!
@@ploopy678 ohh right I forgot about those, you did a dance cover for Queencard and spicy right? Well anyways, thanks for another great video 🫶🫶
Finally another video of Ploopy. Thanks for the new video. ❤❤❤
Awesome video! First generation kpop was really something else😂
If youre asking "how did they think this could work?" The answer is DR music. Their stupidity never ceases to amaze me.
The only thing I'll give DR credit is that they had an amazing eye for talent. Baby Vox, Rania and Blackswan are all top tier groups and I respect him not giving up on her, but dude cannot manage a company and literally let one of the Rania girls move back to her native country without her notifying anybody and them not trying to find her 😭😭
Man, as someone who only has heard the aespa version of "dreams come true," it was really cool to listen to the one from decades before.
BLACKSWAN are definitely improving now which is good the new members and the concept is great. Even though the company is terrible don’t hate on the group their new song and members are really good
I really agree with you, but I think both the group and company is doing better
Baby V.O.X. Is iconic for many things and I have to say this is one of them.
Do wanna add some info. After Cha Yumi left, Kan Miyoun was added. There’s pictures of Miyoun with the original lineup and she performed Haircut with them (there’s a video on UA-cam). And then Jung Hyunjun and Jung Shiwoon left, so Lee Gai and Shim Eunjin were added. They were originally supposed to do a band concept after the hip hop concept failed (as mentioned in the video), with all of the members even learning instruments and spending a lot of time practicing, and they lived in bad conditions at that time. And then when DR saw how good groups like fin.K.L and S.E.S were doing with a cuter concept, Baby V.O.X suddenly changed to a cute concept themselves. I think Gai could’ve done better with the band concept, as I’m sure grown women aren’t always happy with cute concepts, that being said, I still think she did really good with Ya Ya Ya concept. DR ofc 100% knew Gai’s real age, and I believe they are entirely at fault here, Gai is innocent. As a Baby Angel myself, many other fans love Gai and have been looking for all of her older stuff, and looking for her photos which are harder to come across compared to E-Z, Heejin, Eunjin, and Miyoun. From what I’ve heard, she is doing very good today but stays out of the public eye.
UPDATE: Lee Gai is kind of back! We got an update from her after the most recent Baby V.O.X performance. I’d recommend reading the article.
Lee Gai re-re-re-re-debuting in Blackswan is a funny thought if you consider that RaNiA was also originally supposed to be the 3rd Generation of Baby V.O.X.
She’s a Hero! 30 year old who kept up with 15 year old dancers! She needs a GOLD and DIAMOND CROWN! She is gorgeous, smart and a STAR! in my eyes! 🤩🥳😎
agreed, i dont get why people see 30 as old too?
It's insane how much LYING goes on in the KPOP industry. They keep doing it, they always get caught, but they don't learn the lesson. It's so weird!
shame that they have to act like 30 is grandma age
The company forced her to do it, she just wanted to afford paying her parents' medical bills
was just watching some of your dancing shorts wondering, “i hope ploops is doing ok overall.” glad to have another video!
Dang!!! I feel bad for her too, thank you so much for a well thought out and well researched explanation, this was a fascinating video
I'm new to Kpop and really enjoy these fascinating history lessons.
There was a Vietnamese guy I used to work with. Everyone thought he was in his 20s but he was actually 42 so I guess some people can get away with it!
Cheers from Melbourne.
Funny how the age concern doesn't seem to exist when it comes to male idols...
Remember the legendary after school gahee debut at 29
I crave everyday for ploopy's new posts😫😫 I LOVE YOUR CONTENT 🥹🩷
I feel so bad for her, it clearly wasn't her fault, it obviously was the company's. I hope she was ok after, hopefully she was able to find a decent job to help her and her dad live a comfortable life
I really don’t like how you pray for a downfall on a group like black swan
why does it matter... she just lied about her age to not get hate,
why would she need to apologise? she just had to do it and it was her dream
Note, Haebokkae is actually a cover of the song Two of Hearts by Stacey Q, so not really an original song.
Lee gai debuted more than the izone members. But i do feel sorry for her. She was doing this to pay her father's medical fee
Honestly they could've passed her off as 23-26 and the fans would've believed it; she wasn't as youthful looking as her members but she was youthful looking enought to be considered in her mid to late 20s especially seeing as she was one of the shortest members and she has a soft/cutesy voice. I'm not saying they should've lied but if they were gonna lie they should've done it the right way and just said she was again 23-26.
Seriously YG? Why does it matter if they want to perform at 28? I guess 28 and up is too old to go to school too. Why does it seem that most Koreans judge based solely on age?
Your videos are so informative and I just realized you’re the same girl who does the Kpop dance cover shorts 😮😮😮
😳😳😳
Thanks .. totally stanning Lee Gae forever now
You have so many interesting documentaries about K-pop artist and groups. Would you consider doing a video about the youngest girl group, 7 princesses? Also who is the youngest boy group? Thank you for all your videos. 💜💜💜
wow. all the stories ive head made it sound like lee gai was the one who came up with the idea and lied about her age TO THE COMPANY but the company was the villain the whole time. the lengths kpop companies will go to just to be sucessful is sickening
Tbh I'm sick of new kpop fans ageism and discrimination. 30 is young it's not old.
Like I don't know why people hated her she just wanted to become a singer on a successful stage like does her age matter ,
I know you don't mean bad but I hope Blackswan stays with the current line up, I'm really digging it along with their single. I really hope theystay like that.
I think it's not fair for you to mock at her saying she could be planning her re re re debut. She must have been a talented person but joined the wrong company. Company is at the wrong not her.
She deserves admiration, not hatred. And she looked good too, even if slightly older. Funny, to me 30 seems almost the same as 20 - still pretty young and green, but it all depends on personality, of course.
Me personally I wouldn't fake my age, just a pseudonym will do. I don't want people finding where I went to school at, who my parents are, siblings, friends, etc.
You just hear the words "DR Music" and know that there's no gold at the end of that rainbow. She didn't look like a 20 year old at all, definitely late 20s or early 30s. The company really thought people would believe that?
She looked old for 30 in Korea. I would have guessed 35-40. Trying to pass her off as 20 was just ridiculous. Why couldn’t she have just been an older soloist?😢
I really wish somewhere in the future this ageism thing improve specially towards woman cause yeah we have it waaay worst, it’s no fair how many talent we have lost because of this :(