With a name inspired by the Korean word for “energy” (ki) and the English word “rascal,” rookie K-pop girl group Kiiras lives up to its vibrant and youthful image.
During their recent trip to Singapore for a UOB collaboration video shoot — before heading on to Malaysia and Japan — AsiaOne caught up with the six-member act: leader Lingling from Malaysia, Kurumi from Japan, and South Korean members Kylie, Harin, Doyeon, and Roah.
Debuting on May 29 with the single Kill Ma Bo$$, followed by Ziller!, the group’s oldest member is Lingling at 20, while youngest member Roah will turn 14 in October. All but one have left school to focus on their idol careers.
“I used to study hard enough to place first in junior high,” shared Harin, 17. “But I suddenly decided I wanted to become an idol, so I quit studying to pursue it.”
Roah, who trained in gugak (traditional Korean music) for three to four years, said she left that path behind to focus on pop. Only Doyeon, a 15-year-old former child actress, still attends school — and only on days without group activities. On those mornings, she wakes at 5am for lessons.
For Lingling, Malaysia’s first female K-pop idol, trips home are rare. “I don’t have much time to see my family, so during long breaks I try to return to Malaysia if I can. Lately, I’ve just been video-calling my parents every day,” she said. The others also keep in touch with their families via calls during downtime.
Adjusting to Fame
Since its release, Kill Ma Bo$$’s music video has surpassed seven million YouTube views. The members reminisced about filming highlights:
For Doyeon, it was meeting a donkey featured in the MV — an animal she was initially afraid of but grew fond of. Roah recalled a studio scene where real feathers unexpectedly burst into the air instead of CGI ones: “We pretended to be shocked, but off-camera we were laughing. Some members were even scared to hold hands.”
Recently appointed as Mapo Police Station’s Crime Prevention Ambassadors, the group hopes to use its platform for good. “As public figures, we have a responsibility to influence positively,” said Harin. “Through this ambassadorship, we want to join more campaigns about kindness and safety.”
Looking ahead, 19-year-old Kurumi shared, “Our goal now is to prepare for a comeback later this year and hopefully win first place on a music show at least once.” Lingling added, “We also want to attend year-end award shows like MAMA and perform at KCON. One day, we hope to grow as big as Blackpink.”
Cultural Exchange
As a multicultural group, Kiiras is constantly learning from each other. “Language is key,” said Kurumi, who is teaching her bandmates Japanese ahead of their upcoming trip, just as Lingling has been helping with English interviews in Singapore and Malaysia.
Lingling also hopes to incorporate Malaysian culture into their performances, perhaps by wearing traditional attire for Kill Ma Bo$$.
Roah was surprised by one of Lingling’s cultural tidbits: “In Malaysia, people don’t usually wear pyjamas at home — just regular clothes. In Korea, we always wear pyjamas and lie in bed.”
Source: AsiaOne
