Malaysia's K-pop princess Lingling saddles up for a fierce debut
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025
By: Ian Jeremiah Patrick, Malay Mail Text Size: Lingling (third right) was named leader of K-pop group KIIRAS. - Pic by social media KUALA LUMPUR: The wait is over! Malaysia's first female K-pop idol Alicia Wong Lingling has finally made her industry debut recently, with the release of her group KIIRAS' first single. On May 29, its agency Leanbranding officially released the music video for Kill Ma Bo$$, which is currently racking up 262,151 views and over 28,000 likes on YouTube. It has also received positive reviews for its fresh Americana and Country R&B concept, riding at the back of the popular musical trend. With an overdriven guitar line at the background, the song is a fierce, playful anthem about taking control, breaking free from authority, and owning one's power with confidence, charm, and a rebellious killer attitude. Taking centre stage was none other than group leader Lingling, donning a denim vest, cowboy hat and riding a horse. She radiates youthful charm and lively energy, while alongside her, KIIRAS members captivate viewers with dynamic choreography and colourful styling. A promotional video was uploaded weeks prior, which featured singer-actor Eum Moon-suk and Seo In-guk, whom K-drama fans might recognise from Death's Game (2023) or the South Korean reality-documentary show Law of the Jungle. The official teaser for the music video was released shortly after, further building anticipation ahead of the full release. The music video was supposed to be a pre-release, but it changed to a debut, and it continues to gain views and spark conversations on social media, as fans eagerly await what's next for this newly formed six-member girl group. Together with Lingling, the full line-up of KIIRAS — Harin, Kurumi, Kylie, Doyeon, and Roah — was officially announced earlier this month, and they have since performed the song in M Countdown, the weekly music show at Korean broadcaster Mnet. - Malay Mail * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Last member of K-pop megaband BTS to finish military service
K-pop band BTS members RM (left) and V react after being discharged from a mandatory military service in Chuncheon, South Korea, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. -- AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon SEOUL (AFP): SUGA, a member of the K-pop megaband BTS, will officially complete his mandatory military service on Saturday, marking the full return of all seven members of the global supergroup from duty. South Korea's most lucrative musical act has been on a self-described "hiatus" since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service required of all South Korean men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. SUGA will be the last to complete his service, ahead of the group's widely anticipated return to activities as a full unit. His final day concludes at 11:59:59 pm, according to the band's agency HYBE and South Korea's Military Manpower Administration. The rapper, who served as a social service agent -- an alternative form of military duty -- effectively completed his service on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave, according to his label. "Above all else, I wanted to .... sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time," SUGA told the group's fans -- collectively known as ARMY -- on the platform Weverse. "I've missed you so much." Before entering military service, the megaband generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Analysts expect HYBE's operating profit to jump next year, driven in part by BTS's anticipated return to large-scale touring, with some projections forecasting a 71 percent year-on-year increase. "The importance of BTS's reunion to HYBE, K-pop and South Korea at large cannot be overstated. They are singular in their part of the Korean Wave," Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, told AFP. "I think their next tour will be their biggest yet." Since their release last week, band leader RM has appeared at Art Basel in Switzerland as the new global ambassador for Samsung's Art TV, while member V was spotted attending a piano recital in Seoul alongside "Old Boy" filmmaker Park Chan-wook. - Soft power - BTS has long been considered one of the best examples of South Korea's soft power reach, even making a White House visit in 2022. They have spoken candidly about mental health and anti-Asian crime and donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2019, inspiring fans to contribute the same amount. K-pop's surging popularity has also helped break down barriers for Asian artists, said Keung Yoon Bae, a Korean studies professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. "Singers such as Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, have discussed before how they had to go to Korea because they felt that attaining a music career in the US as an Asian felt impossible," she said. "Today, groups such as BTS and Blackpink seem to be breaking down that sense of impossibility." Despite the widespread acclaim, SUGA was fined 15 million won ($10,933) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol last year. On Saturday, he once again apologised for the incident in a message posted on Weverse. "I'm sorry for the disappointment and concern I caused due to what happened last year. More than anything, knowing I caused pain to my fans broke my heart," he said. "I'll do my best to repay the love you've given me - now more than ever." - BTS
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#Showbiz: Last member of K-pop megaband BTS to finish military service
SEOUL: SUGA, a member of the K-pop megaband BTS, will officially complete his mandatory military service on Saturday, marking the full return of all seven members of the global supergroup from duty. South Korea's most lucrative musical act has been on a self-described "hiatus" since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service required of all South Korean men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. SUGA will be the last to complete his service, ahead of the group's widely anticipated return to activities as a full unit. His final day concludes at 11:59:59 pm, according to the band's agency HYBE and South Korea's Military Manpower Administration. The rapper, who served as a social service agent – an alternative form of military duty – effectively completed his service on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave, according to his label. "Above all else, I wanted to... sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time," SUGA told the group's fans – collectively known as ARMY – on the platform Weverse. "I've missed you so much." Before entering military service, the megaband generated more than 5.5 trillion won (US$4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Analysts expect HYBE's operating profit to jump next year, driven in part by BTS's anticipated return to large-scale touring, with some projections forecasting a 71 per cent year-on-year increase. "The importance of BTS's reunion to HYBE, K-pop and South Korea at large cannot be overstated. They are singular in their part of the Korean Wave," Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, told AFP. "I think their next tour will be their biggest yet." Since their release last week, band leader RM has appeared at Art Basel in Switzerland as the new global ambassador for Samsung's Art TV, while member V was spotted attending a piano recital in Seoul alongside "Old Boy" filmmaker Park Chan-wook. BTS has long been considered one of the best examples of South Korea's soft power reach, even making a White House visit in 2022. They have spoken candidly about mental health and anti-Asian crime and donated US$1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2019, inspiring fans to contribute the same amount. K-pop's surging popularity has also helped break down barriers for Asian artists, said Keung Yoon Bae, a Korean studies professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. "Singers such as Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, have discussed before how they had to go to Korea because they felt that attaining a music career in the US as an Asian felt impossible," she said. "Today, groups such as BTS and Blackpink seem to be breaking down that sense of impossibility." Despite the widespread acclaim, SUGA was fined 15 million won (US$10,933) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol last year. On Saturday, he once again apologised for the incident in a message posted on Weverse. "I'm sorry for the disappointment and concern I caused due to what happened last year. More than anything, knowing I caused pain to my fans broke my heart," he said.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
BTS' Suga completes military service, fans await reunion
SEOUL: K-pop group BTS member Suga was discharged from the South Korean military on Saturday, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback from a hiatus. Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013. 'We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21,' BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement. Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns. The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months. Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was 'sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year', and also apologizing to his bandmates. Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won ($11,500) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter. The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report. Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is closely monitored by securities companies. Details of a reunion have not been released.
