Watch The Brutal Realization Of A Trainee Getting Cut From The Debut Group

LE SSERAFIM‘s debut documentary explored the myriad of emotions that come with being a trainee on the path to debut.

(From left to right) LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha, Chaewon, Sakura, Yunjin, and Eunchae | @le_sserafim/Twitter

The documentary reveals the successes and hardships the members went through to prepare to meet the world as LE SSERAFIM. The opening scene showed members Sakura, Yunjin, and Kazuha in the car as Sakura voiced her disbelief that their debut was around the corner. After she said this, the group spotted a promotional photo of LE SSERAFIM by Namsam tower and had the surreal experience of witnessing passersby taking pictures of the poster too.

While the documentary started with a happier moment, it quickly became more somber when Sakura expressed her concerns and doubts about debuting again after having been a successful idol in the Japanese group HKT48 and a popular member of IZ*ONE. She confessed that there was pressure carrying the weight of the name “Miyawaki Sakura.” 

Future LE SSERAFIM members and former Produce 48 contestants Chaewon, Sakura, and Yunjin then reunited and detailed how they came to join HYBE Labels.

While footage of them in a dance rehearsal played, a mystery trainee was dancing with them.

The trainee was quickly identified as Haruka, who was initially chosen as a member of the debut team for LE SSERAFIM.

The CEO of Source Music, So Sung Jin, exposed the harsh reality that being selected as part of the debut team doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to debut. 

The period before album preparations in which the members are fixed takes a good amount of time. That was the toughest period of all. It’s hard enough being chosen as part of the debut team, and in the process of preparing for the debut, it’s not enough that you were chosen.

— So Sung Jin

The Management Team Leader, Kim Hyeong Eun, further explained,

Before the debut team actually debuts, there are cases where members get changed.

— Kim Hyeong Eun

In the next scene, Yunjin, Sakura, Haruka, and Chaewon all wrap up a long day of practice and appear happy as they get to go home.

Haruka is seen moments later being escorted by staff members back to the dance studio. In the following clip, she is seen crying as it’s assumed they had just informed her she wouldn’t be making her debut with LE SSERAFIM.

The members then arrive, visibly upset as they console her, and the moment shows the brutal reality of how quickly things can change while you’re a trainee.

Yunjin shared that Haruka had trained alongside them until that point and commented on the uncertainty she had faced.

The Team Leader expanded on why someone may be cut from the debut team,

There could be health problems, there could be psychological problems, or, once the title concept and track are decided in the visualizing process, a member might not fit with the image. There are too many variables. So it would be very difficult for the trainees due to these standards.

— Kim Hyeong Eun

The Production Director, Lee Jung Seong, added,

It was very important for us to reassure the members. We wanted to give them trust. About the new member, we promised we would find someone that fits the brand concept we agreed upon within the given time.

— Lee Jung Seong

This led them to Amsterdam, where future LE SSERAFIM member Kazuha studied ballet at the Dutch National Ballet Academy. She was then introduced to her future groupmates via a video call. 

As for Haruka, fans believe her addition to the documentary foreshadows her future debut.

hybe will not show any of their trainees if they don't have plan for them and its a bit sus that they show her on ssera doc so I think haruka will be part of ILAND 2 🤔🧐

— lua is CRAZY⚡️ (@chaelluaa) September 17, 2022

Haruka didn’t participate in ILAND2, but instead she joined as a contestant in R U Next?, the show that created ILLIT.

Unfortunately, she was eliminated in the second round of eliminations. While she hasn’t been active as a trainee recently, she is still updating her fans on her daily activities through her Instagram.

Check out the first part of LE SSERAFIM’s documentary below!