#angelix

001: profile.

legal name: park byeol. stage name: bitna. age: 28. training period: 10 months. company: ydh entertainment. group & position: angelix’s lead dancer, vocal. skeleton key: ang3. career focus: variety, fashion & commercial work, solo music.

002: background.

difficult.

park byeol has always been described as difficult, particularly by her own parents. whenever she’d turn her nose up at her dinner because it wasn’t seasoned to her liking, whenever she’d get angry at her mom for accidentally styling her hair asymmetrically, or even when she’d refuse to hangout with their friends’ kids because she didn’t like that they had grass stains on the knees of their jeans, that was the most common word they used to chide her. “you’re so picky!” they’d say. “not everything can be as perfect as you’d like it to be!”

that’s a lesson she still hasn’t learned, but as annoying as it can be, it also serves an incredible purpose when utilized properly. for example, in school, she was often called things like meticulous; organized, analytical, and curious. byeol was definitely the kid who seemed mature for her age, precocious, as well as incredibly put-together. it astonished her teachers, so much so that it made her an easy candidate for class president. she held onto that title for most of her middle school journey, ruling with an iron fist.

though, while school faculties were impressed by her, she wasn’t as much of a hit with her peers. in their eyes, she was harsh. too harsh. with byeol, critiques come first, and praise needs to be earned. she holds herself to such a high standard that, if others don’t try to meet or exceed her, she has a hard time respecting them. if she can do it, then why the hell can’t they? simple logic, in her opinion. back then, she was unforgiving like that. what the others didn’t realize was that, even though she was hard on them, she was the hardest on herself.

it was around this time that she began to “escape”, mostly by researching foreign cultures. having lost a sense of community with her classmates, she wondered what it would be like to explore someplace new. as she earned high scores in english, she studied harder to learn even more, and in high school, entered an exchange program, one that sent her to sunny southern california.

she spent two years in america, and frankly, loved every minute of it. somehow, it was much easier for her to make friends there. eventually, she replaced being class president with earning her spot as captain of the cheerleading squad during her second year; a feat not easily achieved. this is where her fighting spirit was truly lit ablaze, and her sense of strength and self-belief was chiseled to a fine point. so, when she returned to korea, she wasn’t the same as she used to be. her parents now called her “so american”, or jokingly referred to her as gyopo, as a means to tease her.

it was originally her plan to return back to the usa sometime after graduation, but before she could officially start planning that, she was scouted by ydh entertainment. naturally, byeol was highly suspicious of this at first. her brother ended up walking that path, and it was never one she saw herself taking, but after the offer proved to be legitimate, she entertained it.

weaponizing her background in cheer, her audition was successful, and from that point forward, her entire life changed. she went from deciding what her major should be and applying for universities overseas, to studying how to become the perfect idol; utilizing the ten months she trained to not only quickly improve in certain areas, proving her work ethic as a valuable asset, but most importantly, to step into a persona that ydh entertainment considered fail-proof.

they call her bitna, and since the day she was given this role to play, she was adamant on making sure that bitna shined brightly, just like her name suggests. this was going to be a challenge, as she’s never acted before, but she was confident she could rise to the occasion. however, someone who possesses the cool glow of the moon doing a complete one-eighty into the warm beams of sunshine is a tricky tightrope act, but luckily for her, it paid off. in fact, it more than paid off.

being that she had such little time to learn to sing, she was instructed to approach it from a different angle; sending proper technique to the backseat and inviting a cutesy, easily identifiable tone to take the wheel. her doll voice is a practiced, curated piece of art. it’s her product, one that she’s sharpened to a fine point. not only does it fit with the concept, but even if she doesn’t get a lot of time on the mic, listeners will still be able to know, without a doubt, when it’s bitna that’s singing. this voice, alongside a personality overflowing with saccharine sweetness, tastefully-timed aegyo, and a hyper-feminine visual earned a stamp of approval from angelix’s audience, which has carried her far.

she entered this career path not knowing what to expect, but now, she’s a figurehead of aegyo and a delight to all who watch her. over time, byeol has perfected her portrayal of bitna to the point where it’s completely second-nature. ever the hard-worker, she’s earned bitna variety gigs, many viral moments, and countless other opportunities that some can only dream of having. all these years of practical experience and work has cemented this character as apart of her, even if byeol herself only views bitna as her shield and armor; the sun to her moon.

what she wasn’t expecting was to have a solo music career, especially one where she can’t use her doll voice. her appearance on ‘king of mask singer’ felt like just another variety gig to her. she knew that, if she sounded like bitna, it would be easy to tell who she is, which isn’t the name of the game. an overachiever, she wanted to use her natural timbre to conceal her identity; not foreseeing anyone finding it attractive, or appealing. when she earned praise and popularity for it though, she didn’t really know how to feel. honestly, she felt exposed, even more-so when ydh entertainment lined up a solo début for her.

it isn’t that she’s not grateful for the opportunity, but she’s spent nearly ten years presenting bitna to the world that, now that she’s asked to be more herself than ever before, at least publicly, byeol isn’t sure how she feels about it. the mini-album she worked on went over well, but despite that, she hopes that it’s just a one-off thing for her. the idea of her mask slipping off completely freaks her out, and she’s sure it would be a strange transition for her fans to witness, too. for the time being, she’s dedicated to her craft and looking forward to a bright future, even if there are some new cracks in her armor now.

003: image.

when she was studying the greatest idols that came before her, byeol discovered several patterns when it came to top-billing stars over the years. these women seemed to have it all—beauty, grace, cuteness, even sexiness. they were able to banter with hosts of variety shows with ease, they exuded gentleness, they photographed very well, and they appealed to a wide range of people. they were palatable.

as angelix’s concept was revealed and the members had a clearer idea of what was expected of them, byeol took on ydh entertainment’s ideas and worked to fine-tune them into a role they all felt she could play; something befitting of her visuals, a persona that she found simple enough to tap into, and one just different enough from the others that allowed her to stand-out among them.

some of her group-mates focus on elegance, others wear their pure hearts on their sleeves, some crack jokes with impeccable timing, but what bitna has is cuteness and flirtation. though she’s of the eldest members in the group, when byeol learned how much of a natural she is at aegyo, the creative team felt she could use it to her advantage. she finds it rather embarrassing, but tries to tell herself that this isn’t actually her that everyone is gazing at. it’s someone else. it’s bitna.

test-driving bitna out in public came with some mishaps, but when she found her footing, byeol was quick to discover that the character bestowed upon her appealed to the wide majority of angelix’s fanbase, as well as to the general public. the young girls who look up to her find her sweet and quirky, whereas the older men who fantasize about her adore the coquettish flair she uses on them; how she bats her lashes, calls them ‘oppa’ in teasing singsong lilts, and makes them giggle with her display of charming gestures and facial expressions.

these skills also allow bitna to be a refreshing guest, later on a host, on variety programs, considering herself something of a mood maker who raises spirits by radiating warmth and being endearing. it also allows her to sell products for brands rather easily, too. she’s worked so hard on being able to seem captivating through a screen and on stage, that it’s helped gain angelix new fans, even after all this time. her fancams still go viral. the support means so much to her.

now that byeol’s being tasked with revealing bits and pieces of her own self, she’s afraid that she can’t stand up to the brightness bitna possesses. her solo début was a fun project, but having no doll voice to hide behind was a peculiar sensation. however, it made her question whether or not it’s time to bloom out of her days of aegyo. being a grown woman who acts in such a girlish way can only last for so long anyway. slowly, she’s starting to add in a slightly more mature edge to her brand, something considered “cutie-sexy” by some, even if it still reads more cute than sexy, but it’s really just her trying to exude more byeol, less bitna.

001: profile.

legal name: nam yerin stage name: yerin age: 25 training period: 3 years company: ydh entertainment group & position: main rapper, leader of angelix  skeleton key: ang2 career focus: variety, modeling/image, hosting

002: background.

yerin was born to be a busy body, always loving the spotlight, loving to take care of people and especially, to make people laugh. she was originally scouted at a festival in busan when performing with some of her middle school friends, mostly for her sense of on stage presence (humor, crowd hyping, being at home even in front of all those people, unrefined voice but promising). she didn't plan to become an idol, or even famous, she wanted to run track and field and explore the world at the time, mostly looking for adventure. so she begged her family to let her become a trainee. it was no easy sell but she was always a very busy bee and putting on shows in the backyard since she was a little girl already left them prepared for the day. 

if it hadn't been for bonding with some of her fellow trainees and the opportunity to adventure the world and experience new things, yerin wouldn't have any interest in remaining an idol. she had no loyalty to the group or company itself, or even it becoming an idol. but the stage called to her, being in front of cameras, and with friends by her side. once she was considered for leader it solidified remaining an idol for her; not for the music, but for the idea of performing with friends that she considered family, and taking on the challenge together.

003: image.

since her greatest skill was her personality really, it was something the company leaned into, and yerin was all the more happy for it. dancing and rapping and even singing were fun some days but making people laugh was her passion. she was all too eager to pursue smaller stages, variety, hosting and the like, while her fellow members made use of their beautiful voices or acting skills. even her rap she eventually learned to use to make people laugh, becoming fond of freestyling (when she did it poorly, or acrostic poems, it made people laugh all the more)-- many of her activities played into her down to earth yet fun personality, and there were even some that catered to flirting with older men or comedians which she had become very adept at poker-facing through. 

It was siah leaving the group that rocked her foundation slightly. she was forced to acknowledge that the so-called family she had joined was not a real family, that it was hardly friends, it was co-workers. When someone can just walk away without a word of explanation, that means you're not a real family, not to yerin anyway. and since she had so much of her heart caught up in her group, it rocked her. after siah, yerin was fraying as she tried to hold her anxieties and newfound concerns at bay. she was hardly at her best. it started with dismissive, frustrated comments about their uncle fans. man felt this was inappropriate, after all uncle fans are such a large part of why angelix can still work, and felt it was ungrateful. those who praised her were buried under the louder comments as she acted out more. crass comments, complaints about schedules and control, she lost the ability to tell the line between public and private thoughts. and eventually, she was punished for it.

001: profile.

legal name: kim natsumi (legal name) / kaneda natsumi (japanese name) / kim hami (korean name). natsumi is zainichi korean. stage name: juliet age: 28 training period: 4 years company: ydh entertainment group & position: angelix’ main dancer & vocalist skeleton key: ang5 career focus: fashion & commercial work, variety, choreography

002: background.

in another life, natsumi would be the kind of girl to order a whiskey sour at a gay bar and proceed to spend her saturday evening charming someone else into her bed. she’d wear leather jackets and dye her buzzcut in pastel colours until she’d get bored enough of the upkeep to grow it out. she would’ve gotten into a relationship that would’ve moved way too quickly in her first year of university, thrifted all her clothes, and gotten active in her community’s political landscape. maybe she eventually would’ve married a man and settled down with two kids and a dog, but not before spending a few years travelling the world. she would’ve assimilated quietly into japanese society, the way many zainichi koreans of her generation have, and she wouldn’t have learnt to speak the language of her great-grandparents. her parents might’ve disapproved of some of her choices - but she would’ve been happy, and loved.

but that’s not who natsumi is.it’s her innate lust for adventure that has her moving away from okinawa - leaving behind her parents and two siblings - but rebellion is discouraged at ydh entertainment, and so natsumi learns to fall into line. there are things she loves about the trainee life, like the dancing, the one hobby she’s had since childhood; but then there are things she doesn’t like, which is almost everything else. not unlike a caged animal getting used to their circumstances, natsumi makes herself small enough to turn into sweet-voiced juliet. that there’s more to her than her public persona becomes apparent only rarely: rumours that natsumi is attending university, majoring not in music or business but in a stem course; sizeable donations to charities that benefit women in various circumstances.

it’s easy to disconnect when juliet isn’t natsumi, and natsumi isn’t juliet. sometimes natsumi feels like she’s gotten very good at acting, like she’s playing the main character in one of her groupmate’s movies. behind the scenes, she’s loud and chatty - the moment someone whips out a camera, her smiles turn more restrained, her body language changed entirely. sprawls are demure crossed legs once someone’s recording, boisterous laughs turn into giggles.

she isn’t bitter about it. it’s fun, in some ways, to play pretend. in her mind, natsumi sees herself not unlike a magical girl: the regular version of herself in her private life, with much more sparkle and the loving ease that all those girls she grew up crushing on seem to carry with them when she’s juliet.

it’s only when those worlds collide that she starts feeling stifled. but there’s an easy enough fix to that: make sure it never happens, and pray for the best.

003: image.

natsumi was quiet in angelix’s earliest appearances, not just because she wasn’t yet used to the spotlight. the language barrier made it difficult for her to shine on variety: while she understood (almost) everything asked of her, she had some trouble finding the right words to reply. her personality, even through the lens of ydh’s manufactured image, was lost entirely, and this reputation stuck to her for a long time: juliet was the quiet girl in the background with an unsure smile, who only came out of her shell during angelix’s performances.

over time, through group interactions, the real natsumi has started peaking through more. in 2018 she was criticised by some of angelix’s fans for recommending feminist literature on a livestream; in 2019, she was spotted smoking, and in 2020 the disconnect was so large that in an interaction with a groupmate she wasn’t aware was being filmed, people misinterpreted her friendly teasing as rudeness. natsumi prefers to keep her two identities separate, and as such doesn’t allow the public much of a view into her life beyond the carefully-selected spot on her living room couch, picked because nothing else in her apartment can be seen beyond it.

001: profile.

legal name: ban hyorin age: 28 training period: 3 years company: ydh entertainment group & position: angelix’s main vocal 2 + face of the group skeleton key: ang6 career focus: fashion & commercial work, acting

002: background.

tw: implied eating disorder

it’s a shame that hyorin’s memories seem to begin at the age of 7 because that’s exactly when her mother decides that she can’t handle raising two little girls anymore. unlike her younger sister, who’s too young to understand that she’s just been abandoned, hyorin remembers the day her mother left so vividly.

that was also the day she was determined never to be a problem for her father and always to be a great role model to her younger sister.

just like she determined, hyorin wasn’t a very difficult child. she took on the role of the oldest child, taking care of her sister on nights her father would work late nights to raise two daughters on his own. on those nights, it was her job to raise her sister, and she did it all with no complaints.

/

hyorin’s first experience with singing is completely by accident. all she’s really done singing-wise is go to karaoke with her friends after school or just hum to herself in the shower. it’s when her friend convinces her to join the school choir club, insisting that they just need a few more people to keep the club alive.

wanting to be a good friend, she can’t seem to say no and finds herself singing and creating harmonies with others. it’s this time she gets her first compliment on her voice and that hyorin feels something new emerge within her.

hyorin’s never dreamed big. she’s always just wanted to do well in school, go to a good university, get a steady job that’ll make her enough money so that her father won’t have to push himself so hard. so, even though singing brings her a different kind of joy than she’s felt before, she pushes back those feelings and reaches for a book and pen instead, knowing that she can’t do much to change her future.

/

one day, casting cards from entertainment companies come flooding her way. they come from a friend—the same friend who convinced her to join the choir club and also the one who has, unknowingly, uploaded a clip of hyorin singing online. apparently, the clip had gone semi-viral and there were companies who had contacted her friend, wanting to recruit hyorin.

however, she doesn’t act right away. instead, she holds onto the few management cards she received, pondering whether or not she could be selfish for once.

it’s when her father catches these cards on her desk at home and convinces her to give them a call back. he gives her a nice pat on the back, telling her that she’s allowed to act her age and take a risk and that he’ll always be here for her to fall back on if things don’t go her way.

that’s the last push she needs before she starts stepping into auditions and striving toward the dream she’s been suppressing.

/

at the end, she finds herself beginning her trainee life at ydh. it wasn’t easy, to say the least. the training was competitive, and she could see that a lot of the other trainees had more background in music than she did.

however, it wouldn’t be hyorin if she just gave up. the concentration and determination she once used to study, she used during her life as a trainee and secured a spot in angelix.

the first person she calls when she gets word of making the final lineup is her father, and she swears she can hear him crying over the phone.

“i’ll take care of you now,” is all she says before she hangs up and stifles back a few tears herself.

/

with angelix’s debut came overflooding praise for hyorin’s visuals, something she never expected. she’s had friends and family tell her she’s pretty, but she’s never thought much about it. everybody in this industry was pretty, weren’t they?

despite the lack of individual activities being permitted for angelix, hyorin finds herself shooting editorials and filming one-time advertisements. they’re nothing big because she doubts that’s what ydh wanted, but enough to get her name out there.

unfortunately, it was also enough for her mother to realize that the little girl she left behind as a child had debuted and had grown into someone she can extort money from.

it’s two years after her debut when hyorin hears from her mother again. if she was nine, this would’ve been a phone call that she had been waiting for. however, too much time had passed, and hyorin has taken on too much responsibility for her to be ready to forgive her mother anytime soon.

plus, it’s not like her mother is actually looking to make amends either. all she wants is some money. the phone call doesn’t include any how have you been, honey? or i’m sorry’s. instead, it’s filled with threats and talks about how she’s in some debt and that it’d be fabulous if her rich and successful daughter could help her out.

hoping that paying her off will get rid of her, hyorin does so, ending the call with an “i never want to hear from you ever again.”

/

angelix’s career has its ups and downs, but it never seems to crash and fall. she plays the role of an idol so well because she’s always been so obedient. this is the only way for her to provide for her family, and she doesn’t want to risk losing any of it.

the success of her group also means that her name never stops making headlines, which means the calls from her mother don’t stop either. it’s after a couple of years and many million won later that hyorin decides she’s had enough. ydh has, surprisingly, done enough so that word wouldn’t get out about her gambling mother, but she doesn’t want her hard-earned money going to that sorry excuse of a mother anymore.

she blocks her number, tells her father not to respond to her either, and that she will no longer be paying back her debt.

her mother seems to pay her back by doing interviews with tabloids, saying that she’s just a poor soul who isn’t getting any help from her mother. it takes an official statement from both hyorin and ydh about how she’s cut ties with her mother and has had nothing to do with her since she was young for people to stop talking.

well, most people.

there are still a handful of people who claim that hyorin should be paying back the debt because she’s her daughter, but she’s stacked up a clean enough image for most people to simply feel sorry for her.

/

being the group’s main vocalist, she always assumed that her first activity outside of editorials and brand deals would be a musical solo. however, ydh seems to have different plans for her.

ydh takes the claim that all visuals should be acting a little too serious by throwing her into a role she isn’t ready for all too soon. hyorin’s never been interested in acting, and it’s painfully obvious when she completely bombs her first role. she doesn’t want to act—she never had—but ydh doesn’t seem to listen and continues to bag her main roles that only leave her open to harsh criticism.

despite all that, hyorin’s still the perfect idol on the outside. she never loses a smile on stage, does her best with fanservice to all fans alike, and simply doesn’t seem to have a bad day in front of the cameras.

however, she’s still human so she has her lows and vices. she never seems to be able to eat a proper meal without wanting to throw it all up. or she’ll starve all day and then eat a huge meal before regretting it immediately. fans claim that she seems to be getting skinnier by the day, and she does her best to assure them by taking bites in front of the camera.

but these are all sides that she forbids herself from letting others see. she’s still the breadwinner of her family, so she’s desperate to hold onto this career of hers. angelix’s image change and the success it seems to bring it a breath of relief for hyorin who felt like she was suffocating with the departure of her member and what that could’ve brought to the group.

she doesn’t have strong opinions about the direction of angelix. even when people were talking about their image change, all hyorin cared about was whether it’d be successful or not. it’s proven to be a good change, and that’s all that matters to her.

now all she hopes for is for ydh to stop forcing her into an actress when she’s not, but that seems like too much to ask for.

003: image.

hyorin is, to say the least, angelix personified.

to the general public, she represents everything the group stands for. she’s gentle, lovely and acts exactly like how you would expect an idol to act. her visuals have garnered interest and attention since angelix’s debut, so it’s no surprise that her career is mostly centered around editorials and brand deals. brands have shown interest in working with her for long periods of time because she’s such a low-risk model. there’s very little chance that she’ll get caught in some big scandal that’ll affect any brand’s reputation, so she has a good relationship with the brands she’s worked with.

to idol fans, even if they may not be angelix fans, they talk about her visuals. she tops visual rankings made by fans and non-fans alike to the point that people seem to forget she’s the group’s main vocalist as well until some random clip of her vocals goes viral for a minute. however, that only lasts so long, and the focus is all on her looks again. she’s a pretty face that’s hard to forget, but that’s also all she is. people will talk about her looks and maybe add in a few other words (boring, cookie-cutter, and so on). luckily for her, they’re not interested enough to throw hate at her, especially since she isn’t deemed charming enough to be a threat to their favs.

to cherubs, she’s the perfect girlfriend, role model, friend, and everything you can ask for. she doesn’t shy away from fanservice and usually does most of what she’s asked of. hyorin gives her all on stage and fan events, so her fans will come to her defense whenever they can. they’ll claim that she’s not boring but just serious, and that she genuinely loves her job and hanging out with her fans. because she caters to them so well, hyorin’s individual fanbase is shockingly loyal to her but may come off as overprotective as well.

001: profile.

legal name: suh eunbin age: 25 training period: 1 year company: ydh entertainment group & position: angelix lead vocal skeleton key: ang4 career focus: acting, modeling, music

002: background.

she wants to be on stage.

but she doesn’t know what that entails. the starlight and daze of days on sets, and mother rehearsing lines - back and forth, her eyelids growing heavier in the car. suh eunbin is five. obedience becomes like a second skin when she’s standing on her toes in front of middle aged men and women. (they squint their eyes together, forcing her to repeat once more). her spine straightens a bit tighter, and she forgets what feigned confidence does when a little hunch garners a cough from her mother in the corner of her room.

(remember after all, it’s her dream).

life becomes a constant state of high-paced travel. from shoots to sets - she becomes the camera’s golden child. starry eyed, a glint that reflects the dark brown hues of her eyes. rejection becomes a foreign place, love calls echoing in their living room. (her mother barely keeps up, and restlessness becomes a remedy when dad’s always cooking).

suh eunbin learns to grow up faster, freedom slipping past her fingers. dad’s cooped up in a michelin restaurant, and mother’s telling her to straighten up her dresses and bow with the click of a button. she becomes a puppet, a show girl. accolades, and faux formalities - smiles that are primed because the corners of her mouth are dictated by the camera.

seasons go by, and years pass - late nights on set fall onto a resolution. scrolling past the screen, she sees glimmers of a new stage. rose-tinted optimism paints a new picture: smiles, happiness, shades of pink.

she tells mother, she wants to be on stage. a different stage.

-

elegance, poise, maturity.

she spends her days in limbo. the hazy area of marred personas - something that paints her as a fraud. “don’t say much.” becomes three words imprinted that laces her mouth together, without any trace of the word. suh eunbin hides behind the curtains of her members. a walking contradiction splits her in half. the lights no longer feel warm on stage when she’s calloused into a lifelong script.

the grass is never greener on the other side.

and she chalks it up to her rose-tinted ignorance yanking her to this position in the first place. an inescapable situation when she’s pulled from group promotions for ydh’s own misgivings.

(lights camera action, that’s show biz, baby.)

stick to what you’re good at, and the notion stands. life becomes a sequence of events: shoot a scene, sing a bridge, sit back while the promotions begin. still the camera’s golden child - she never stepped off stage. rejection still remains amorphous, blurred lines when the public shrouds her in the judgement that a stage has no place for a girl like her.

(stick to what you’re good at, you’re no good on stage).

the scripts slip into her fingers faster than the lines of melodies instructed towards her. ydh remedies nothing when they become the beckoning force nudging her further and further from stage. and in the end, the echoes of the crowds become louder - each morning starts with a slew of words sprawled like shrapnel. she tells herself to be braver, stronger., and quieter.

after all, she knows no stage in the end.