R U Next Winners and Final Group Name Announced!

Now that the South Korean idol survival series and its remaining contestants have crossed the last bridge on the final episode of the show (알유넥스트), it’s time to find out who the R U Next winners are! The final 6 trainees picked on the show’s last episode will be debuting as members of BELIFT LAB’s next global girl group. The reality competition was a joint venture between JTBC and HYBE Corporation, and was hosted by Choi Soo-young aka SNSD’s Sooyoung.

The R U Next final lineup will be joining ENHYPEN as label mates, and since BELIFT LAB is a label that was jointly founded by CJ ENM and HYBE, they will also be listed under the same umbrella as other girl group members of NewJeans and LE SSERAFIM, both formed by companies – ADOR and Source Music respectively – that have now been acquired by HYBE. Heading into the last episode, only 10 contestants made it to this step, and out of those, only 6 were picked as the finalists.

Here are all the important announcements made during the R U Next final episode!

Original R U Next Contestants

The show originally commenced with 22 contestants racing towards the finish line, many of whom had also been former trainees of several entertainment labels. These participants are namely, Jiwoo, Funa (former Nizi Project contestant), Moa (former P Nation and SM Entertainment trainee), Chanelle (former Yuehua Entertainment trainee), Yunah (former Big Hit trainee), Minju (former YG Entertainment trainee), Jeongeun (former Source Music trainee), Moka (former HYBE Japan trainee), Jihyun (former HOW Entertainment and Yeuhua Entertainment trainee), Ruka (former Cube Entertainment and Source Music trainee), Yewon, Jeemin (former Source Music trainee), Hyewon (former member of Little Cheer Girl), Youngseo (former SM Entertainment and ADOR trainee), Yuisa, Wonhee, Haseul, Iroha (JYP Entertainment trainee), Iris, Himena, Seoyeon and Ena.

The semi finale episode made the announcement that only 10 participants would be moving forward. Their names were revealed in the following order – Moka, Minju, Youngseo, Wonhee, Yunah, Iroha, Jeongeun, Jeemin, Jiwoo and Himena.

As for the last episode, all 22 trainees stepped on the stage again as a unit for the final time to perform a special medley of ENHYPEN’s Given-Taken, LE SSERAFIM’s Fearless and NewJeans’ Attention.

R U Next Group Name

The official name of the R U Next debut group has been announced as I’LL-IT and it comprises of 6 members, two of whom were picked on the basis of the fan votes, and the remaining four were chosen through label pick.

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R U Next Winners

So as to kickstart ILLIT’s debut journey, the six members who secured their spots as group members during the final live broadcast are Wonhee, Youngseo (fan votes), Minju, Iroha, Moka and Yunah (label picks).

Watch the R U Next Finale Trailer

The last episode of the TV program had also streaming on the official HYBE LABELS YouTube channel.

Did your favourite contestants make it to the finish line? Let us know your thoughts on the finale in the comments section below.

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