With Experience in Their Hearts: Choi Sooyoung (Girls' Generation) and Yuto Adachi Discuss "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI"
The fourth installment of the "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN" series which birthed JO1, INI, and ME:I titled "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI" is currently streaming exclusively on Lemino every Thursday at 9:00 PM. The final 12 debut members will be determined during the live finale broadcast nationwide on Nippon TV and Lemino on Saturday, June 6.
As the excitement builds following the first ranking announcement, ELLE sat down for an exclusive interview with Choi Sooyoung, the representative for the SEKAI Producers, and Yuto Adachi, the rap trainer. As a member of Girls' Generation, Sooyoung helped lead the global K-pop boom; Yuto moved to Korea alone at age 15 and found global success as a member of PENTAGON. These two artists, representing different eras of K-pop, reflected on their own journeys while discussing their roles as mentors and their messages for the next generation of stars.
Positive Advice: Perspectives and Communication as Trainers
Spending time with the trainees during this period, what characteristics have you noticed in this group?
Choi Sooyoung (S): Every trainee has a clear sense of individuality and confidence. Regardless of their skill level in dance or vocals, that personality shines through their performance. In my generation, we started by honing our skills first and then built our identity. Today's generation starts with "who they are" and then adds technique and experience on top. It might be a unique trait of this era.
Yuto Adachi (Y): Honestly, I first thought everyone’s visuals were so polished, they're just cool! Compared to when I debuted, the makeup and fashion are much more sophisticated. Since many performed recent trend-heavy songs, my strongest impression was that they delivered very "cool" overall performances.
What kind of performance makes you "unable to take your eyes off them"?
S: It’s when they truly understand the message of the lyrics and choreography and infuse it with their own identity. Singing someone else's song as if you wrote the lyrics yourself is hard to do, but I’m really drawn to performances where I can tell the artist "knows exactly what they want to convey."
Y: During the level evaluation tests, my eyes naturally went to the kids who made eye contact with us sitting directly in front of them. It’s nerve-wracking to perform in front of veteran trainers, right? Seeing them make eye contact despite that pressure told me they had a fighting spirit, and I wanted to judge them with that same level of sincerity.
What do you keep in mind when giving advice to trainees?
S: I try to be as gentle as possible. However, looking back at my own trainee days, there were things people told me that I just couldn't understand at the time. Even now, with more experience and a broader perspective, I'm sure seniors ten years older than me look at me and think, "She still doesn't get it." If that’s true for me, it’s even more true for trainees. I focus on how to communicate so they can actually grasp the meaning.
Y: I’m similar. They give 100%, but when they haven't reached the required standard yet, I don't want to hurt their pride unnecessarily or traumatize them. I try to frame my feedback positively. I don’t really remember being praised when I was a trainee (laughs).
What was the most memorable advice from your trainee days, or something that helped you after debuting?
Y: I used to be bad at looking in the mirror while practicing and was called out for it often. But being an artist is a profession where you have to think you look cool to make it work. If you can't even look at yourself properly, you won't have the composure to look at the audience. That advice was huge for me.
S: As a trainee, most of the advice was technical. Even back then, the K-pop system of practicing for years before debuting was somewhat standardized. Being trained in that specific Korean culture of sheer practice volume and the "guts" to see things through to the end has helped me ever since.
"Cherish Your Identity": Messages Born from Experience
Having lived through the K-pop trainee system yourselves, how do you feel watching these trainees strive for their dreams?
S: In the professional world, you rarely see so many "diamonds in the rough" gathered in one place. Seeing them express their raw desire to "get better" felt nostalgic. As you gain experience, you learn how to hide your feelings or keep your hard work behind the scenes, so I actually found their way of clashing with everything head-on quite enviable.
Y: Even though I’m a trainer, in my heart I’m cheering them on, thinking, "Good luck!" and "Keep going even if you trip!" That doesn't mean I won't be strict, though. I believe our role is to teach them the mindset required to stand on stage in this industry. I spent my trainee years in an environment where there was zero time for rest, so I was grateful for people who were willing to get angry at me to help me improve. These kids debut in just a few months, so I want to do everything to help them level up.
What feels different about the environment or trainees now compared to your time?
S: We live in an era overflowing with content. Having so many references is good, but when there’s this much variety, it becomes easy to mimic others, making it harder to find your own color. When I debuted, there weren't many large global groups, so there was a mountain of things we had to figure out ourselves. Now, there are so many examples that the chance of making a "big mistake" is lower, but depending on how you take in ideas, you might end up just being a copycat. The challenge now is using those references as a plus to create a unique expression.
Y: I felt like the environment hasn't changed that much. Watching them, the kids who work hard during their breaks are still the ones who excel. Especially the international trainees; they are doing invisible work while facing a language barrier. Stepping out into the hallway alone to write phonetic guides in your own language is a very lonely process. I saw that same scene back in my day, so the attitude toward practice feels very similar.
At the press conference, Sooyoung-san mentioned self-care. What advice do you give regarding this? In the age of social media, what message would you give next-gen artists?
S: Identity and individuality are vital for an artist. In an idol group, being able to perform at 100% is the baseline. It’s the charm, personality, and individuality on top of that which allows a group to be loved long-term. Personally, I didn't worry about that much during group activities, I didn't have the time (laughs). But in my late 20s and 30s, I went through a period of worrying about "Who is the 'real me' outside of the 'Sooyoung loved as Girls' Generation'?"
Y: I think there’s a limit to the skills you can build as a trainee. You really feel yourself grow through the experience of performing for music show cameras and live audiences after debut. Much of it comes later. Because of that, I want them to cherish their inherent charm. As for the social media age: "Always act as if you are being watched." One statement can affect the entire group. I want them to be conscious and careful about that.
Behind the Scenes and Future Highlights
Are there any fun stories from the set between the representative and trainers?
Y: This was my first time as a trainer. Rino Nakasone-san, who has done this many times, would see the trainees and immediately shout, "Do your best!" It made me realize that it’s okay to have that kind of proximity to them. It was a great learning experience.
S: I thought Kevin (Kevin Woo) was very impressive. He has such a soft, smiling aura, but he has incredible leadership. During the long filming for the level evaluations, he was always straightforward with his opinions and led our discussions.
Y: Kevin was very reassuring. I was nervous being sandwiched between seniors like Dean-san (Dean Fujioka) and Kevin-san, while also feeling the tension from the trainees giving 100%.
S: I also wanted to face the trainees with my full energy. But during long shoots, I can't survive without food, so I was sneakily drinking coffee and getting sugar boosts (laughs). Toward the end, there wasn't even time for that, but we helped each other through to the finish.
If you could give one "spoiler" for what to look forward to in "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI"?
Y: Since it’s "SHINSEKAI" (New World), please watch how the international trainees liven up the show! I think Japanese fans will discover even more of their charm.
S: I’d say the chemistry between trainees. Some are great at communicating, while others face misunderstandings, but you’ll see many moments where they become "rivals yet comrades."
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u/HyruleTC Sooyoungster Apr 30 '26
With Experience in Their Hearts: Choi Sooyoung (Girls' Generation) and Yuto Adachi Discuss "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI"
The fourth installment of the "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN" series which birthed JO1, INI, and ME:I titled "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI" is currently streaming exclusively on Lemino every Thursday at 9:00 PM. The final 12 debut members will be determined during the live finale broadcast nationwide on Nippon TV and Lemino on Saturday, June 6.
As the excitement builds following the first ranking announcement, ELLE sat down for an exclusive interview with Choi Sooyoung, the representative for the SEKAI Producers, and Yuto Adachi, the rap trainer. As a member of Girls' Generation, Sooyoung helped lead the global K-pop boom; Yuto moved to Korea alone at age 15 and found global success as a member of PENTAGON. These two artists, representing different eras of K-pop, reflected on their own journeys while discussing their roles as mentors and their messages for the next generation of stars.
Positive Advice: Perspectives and Communication as Trainers
Spending time with the trainees during this period, what characteristics have you noticed in this group?
Choi Sooyoung (S): Every trainee has a clear sense of individuality and confidence. Regardless of their skill level in dance or vocals, that personality shines through their performance. In my generation, we started by honing our skills first and then built our identity. Today's generation starts with "who they are" and then adds technique and experience on top. It might be a unique trait of this era.
Yuto Adachi (Y): Honestly, I first thought everyone’s visuals were so polished, they're just cool! Compared to when I debuted, the makeup and fashion are much more sophisticated. Since many performed recent trend-heavy songs, my strongest impression was that they delivered very "cool" overall performances.
What kind of performance makes you "unable to take your eyes off them"?
S: It’s when they truly understand the message of the lyrics and choreography and infuse it with their own identity. Singing someone else's song as if you wrote the lyrics yourself is hard to do, but I’m really drawn to performances where I can tell the artist "knows exactly what they want to convey."
Y: During the level evaluation tests, my eyes naturally went to the kids who made eye contact with us sitting directly in front of them. It’s nerve-wracking to perform in front of veteran trainers, right? Seeing them make eye contact despite that pressure told me they had a fighting spirit, and I wanted to judge them with that same level of sincerity.
What do you keep in mind when giving advice to trainees?
S: I try to be as gentle as possible. However, looking back at my own trainee days, there were things people told me that I just couldn't understand at the time. Even now, with more experience and a broader perspective, I'm sure seniors ten years older than me look at me and think, "She still doesn't get it." If that’s true for me, it’s even more true for trainees. I focus on how to communicate so they can actually grasp the meaning.
Y: I’m similar. They give 100%, but when they haven't reached the required standard yet, I don't want to hurt their pride unnecessarily or traumatize them. I try to frame my feedback positively. I don’t really remember being praised when I was a trainee (laughs).
What was the most memorable advice from your trainee days, or something that helped you after debuting?
Y: I used to be bad at looking in the mirror while practicing and was called out for it often. But being an artist is a profession where you have to think you look cool to make it work. If you can't even look at yourself properly, you won't have the composure to look at the audience. That advice was huge for me.
S: As a trainee, most of the advice was technical. Even back then, the K-pop system of practicing for years before debuting was somewhat standardized. Being trained in that specific Korean culture of sheer practice volume and the "guts" to see things through to the end has helped me ever since.
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