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
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Concert review: Le Sserafim are ‘steady lah' with strong stage presence, use of Singlish
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox 2025 Le Sserafim Tour Easy Crazy Hot In Singapore Singapore Indoor Stadium Aug 16 Le Sserafim's fans in Singapore are 'steady lah', the K-pop girl quintet praised repeatedly during their sold-out show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Aug 16. The 7,500-strong audience frequently sang along and cheered, earning the approval of the group, who also exclaimed in Singlish: 'Swee lah (Hokkien for nicely done).' This marked Le Sserafim's first performance in Singapore since their 2022 debut and subsequent meteoric rise. The group's line-up comprises Kim Chaewon, 25, and Hong Eunchae, 18, from South Korea; Sakura, 27, and Kazuha, 22, from Japan; and Huh Yunjin, 23, from the United States. Their concert tour kicked off in April in Incheon, followed by stops in various Japanese cities, Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila and Bangkok. Singapore marks the conclusion of their Asia tour. In September, they are scheduled to perform in eight North American cities, including Chicago, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The K-pop sensation delighted fans with a comprehensive set list of more than 25 hits. They opened with Ash and Hot, two alluring mid-tempo tracks from their latest EP, released in March. The quintet's choreography for Hot had them fanning their faces to the lyrics 'I'm burning hot'. This set the stage for a nearly three-hour energetic performance. The group made a concerted effort to use Singlish, and were eager to impress and connect with their fans, affectionately known as Fearnot. For instance, before launching into the high-energy Latin-pop-inspired Fire In The Belly (2023), which features a Spanish chant of 'ole ole ole', Kim encouraged the audience to join in: 'Singapore, be my kaki.' The concert also incorporated elements of a fan meet, with the quintet engaging in long stretches of banter and playing games among themselves. As with every show on the concert tour, they performed a local tongue twister. For the Singapore leg, this involved hilarious attempts to order coffee like a local: 'Auntie, kopi, kopi peng, kopi kosong, kopi O, kopi C, kopi siew dai, kopi ga dai, kopi gao. Da bao.' Which member did the best? From the enthusiastic cheers, all five of them were winners. The second half of the show featured songs that propelled them to fame, such as Antifragile (2022), Unforgiven (2023) and Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife (2023). Just like at most concerts, many attendees held up their phones to record videos and take photos. Sakura gently urged them to put away their phones and immerse themselves in the moment. 'We look more beautiful when you see us through your eyes,' she playfully remarked. Indeed, they were captivating, with Kim appearing to be the most popular among the young male concertgoers, who made up a good half of the audience. Her name was frequently yelled, even leading to a humorous shouting match when one fan, wearing a yellow jersey with her name screamed back: 'Chaewon is mine!' K-pop girl quintet Le Sserafim performed in Singapore for the first time since their 2022 debut and subsequent meteoric rise. PHOTO: As the concert concluded, the group promised to return to Singapore. Huh said: 'Please get more people to like Le Sserafim.' Their heartfelt appreciation was evident as they lingered onstage long after their final two songs – their first full English track Perfect Night and the Korean song No-Return (Into The Unknown) – continuing to say 'thank you' and 'bye-bye' to their fans. In the eyes of the audience, the quintet were truly 'steady lah' too.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Former Skarf member Ferlyn reflects on K-pop days 13 years after girl group's debut
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Singapore's one and only K-pop girl group Skarf marked its 13th debut anniversary on Aug 14. And one of its former members, Ferlyn Wong, took to Instagram to reflect on the occasion. The 33-year-old uploaded an unreleased clip of one of their 2014 practices, dancing along to the song Wings (2012) by British girl group Little Mix. She captioned it: 'A performance we prepared, but never got to perform.' Skarf were active from 2011 to 2014 and debuted on Aug 14, 2012, with their self-titled album. The original members were Singaporeans Tasha Low and Wong, Korean-American Sol and South Korean Jenny. When Skarf debuted in 2012, it consisted of (from left) Ferlyn, Sol, Tasha and Jenny. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE In late 2012, Sol departed due to personal reasons, while South Korean JooA and Japanese Hana joined. Wong then left in 2014 to pursue a solo career, and the group was quietly disbanded soon after. Now a singer-actress who goes by Ferlyn G, she recently acted in the Channel 8 period drama Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (2025). Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore I want to divorce my husband and be a single mother: More victims speaking up on emotional abuse World Trump drops Ukraine ceasefire demand after Putin summit Singapore Buying hope: Inside S'pore's love affair with the lottery Singapore She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey Life These cats may have disabilities, but they are resilient and capable of being affectionate Singapore PM Wong's National Day Rally speech to begin at 6.45pm on Aug 17 Singapore Motorcyclist dies after multi-vehicle collision on TPE Opinion Confessions of a born-again Singaporean Ferlyn Wong, now known as Ferlyn G, recently acted in the Channel 8 period drama Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (2025). PHOTO: MEDIACORP She wrote: '13 years ago, the world met Skarf. Singapore saw its first home-grown talent step into the K-pop spotlight.' Thinking back, she said that they 'grew up quickly, learning to navigate change and survival at a young age'. She wrote: 'Through every high, low and line-up change, what we went through wasn't just a journey; it was a quiet fight to keep going.' Skarf held a showcase at Kallang Theatre in 2013. PHOTO: ZBCOMMA Today, its members have taken flight in different directions, she added. Former leader Low is now an actress who was the lead in Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story. The 31-year-old has won the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes prize at the Star Awards three times, in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Tasha Low is now an actress who recently played the lead in Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story. PHOTO: MEDIACORP JooA, 35, is said to have become a musical theatre actress in South Korea; and Jenny, 29, an Instagram model. Hana, 30, joined another girl group, Secret Number, under the name Lea from 2020 to April 2025, and left after her contract expired. Sol is now 34. Wong said: 'We are not always in touch, but when we do reconnect, it's as if no time has passed. To me, that is something really special.' She also added that she was proud of the group, and wrote: '(Did we have) talent? Plenty. Luck? Not so much. Passion? We were on fire!' She added: 'We were always singing live and dancing our hearts out, giving everything we had, every time. 'Thank you for being part of this story since 2012. If you've stayed with us all these years, I hope you too, are spreading your wings to fly.'
International Business Times
a day ago
- International Business Times
Beyond the Bar Episode 5 Air Date, Preview, Spoilers, and More
August 16, 2025 14:37 +08 Beyond the Bar poster. X/JTBC Beyond the Bar episode 5 will air on JTBC on Saturday (August 16) at 10:30 PM KST. In this chapter, Kang Hyo Min will appear in the court as the attorney in charge of the case. The newly released stills show her preparing well for her first appearance in the courtroom representing her client. People in Korea can watch the fifth episode on TV or stream it online. K-drama fans from other parts of the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Mexico, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, China, Japan, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, Turkey, and South Africa, can watch the mini-series with subtitles on online streaming platforms, like Netflix. Beyond the Bar is an ongoing legal drama starring Lee Jin Wook, Jung Chae Yeon, Lee Hak Joo, and Jeon Hye Bin. It focuses on an inexperienced rookie attorney with compassion and confidence. She gradually becomes a true lawyer under the mentorship of senior attorney Yoon Seok Hoon. Screenwriter Park Mi Hyun wrote the script for this mini-series, and Kim Jae Hong directed it. The K-drama premiered on JTBC on Saturday (August 2) at 10:30 PM KST. Here is everything you need to know about Beyond the Bar episode 5, including the air date, preview, spoilers, and streaming details. How to Watch? The legal drama will return with a new episode on JTBC on Saturday (August 16) at 10:30 PM KST. People in Korea can watch episode 5 on TV or stream it online. K-drama fans from countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, can watch the mini-series with subtitles on various online streaming platforms, such as Netflix. Here are the International Air Timings of Beyond the Bar Episode 5: US - 9:30 AM Canada - 9:30 AM Australia - 11:30 PM New Zealand - 1:30 PM Japan - 10:30 PM Mexico - 7:30 AM Brazil - 10:30 AM Saudi Arabia - 4:30 PM India - 7:00 PM Indonesia - 8:30 PM Singapore - 9:30 PM China - 9:30 PM Europe - 3:30 PM France - 3:30 PM Spain - 3:30 PM UK - 2:30 PM South Africa - 3:30 PM Philippines - 9:30 PM Preview and Spoilers The production team teased trouble for Kang Hyo Min during her first trial as the attorney in charge of the case. Though Yoon Seok Hoon helps her with an impromptu one-on-one coaching session and she prepares thoroughly, things don't go as planned. A promotional still captures Kang Hyo Min's tense expression. Another photo shows Hong Do Yoon, the head of Yullim's corporate team, trying to stop her. The followers of this legal drama are eagerly waiting to know if Kang Hyo Min can win her first case. The mini-series has managed to win the hearts of millions of K-drama lovers worldwide with its first four episodes. It received positive reviews from viewers.
