'Island' Bi "Met Bang Si-hyuk for the First Time in 11th Grade... He Was a Scary Figure Back Then"

Photo by Mnet, screenshot from the broadcast of 'I-LAND'

Photo by Mnet, screenshot from the broadcast of 'I-LAND'

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Hee-eun Park] Rain mentioned his past connection with Bang Si-hyuk.

On the 26th, the first episode of Mnet's 'I-LAND' aired, featuring Bang Si-hyuk and Rain meeting as producers.

In the episode, producers Bang Si-hyuk, Rain, and Zico gathered in one place. Rain expressed his delight toward Bang Si-hyuk, saying, "It feels very nostalgic."

He explained, "I met hyung when I was in the second year of high school and auditioned. Back then, hyung was a very intimidating figure. It was a time when I was already being scolded a lot."

In response, Bang Si-hyuk said, "From my perspective, after the activities of 'How to Avoid the Sun,' you were already a global star. You were someone I respected."

He continued, "You may not remember, but in the past, you told me, 'I think I do well when I run and sing. I'll go run a bit,' and then you sang while sweating profusely. I thought you were someone to look up to."

Then he added, "I don't recall scolding you much in the beginning," sharing their special bond.

The three producers who appeared that day expressed admiration for the 'I-LAND' set. Rain said, "If this were a movie, it would be a big blockbuster. It feels like being on a movie set," and Zico marveled, "It's an environment where you really have to practice properly."

Meanwhile, Mnet's 'I-LAND' is the first project of 'BELIFT LAB,' a joint venture established in March last year by CJ ENM and Big Hit Entertainment. 'I-LAND' is a survival program that captures the process of creating the next generation of K-POP artists.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.