Back in 2020, the first installment of "I-LAND" gave rise to the popular and now world-renowned boy group, ENHYPEN. Since their formation, they've gone on an upward trajectory, achieving mass fame, accompanied by numerous awards that speak to their undeniable skills.

4 years later, Mnet is back with the newest installment of the survival program and in collaboration with THEBLACKLABEL, "I-LAND2: N/a", simply referred to as "I-LAND 2". This time, the competition show hopes to form the next big girl group to lead the rising 5th generation. With 24 contestants, the fight for a spot on the debut lineup will be intense, calling for incredible determination, hard work, and mental fortitude.

While there might be some who are brushing it off as just another survival program, there are others who have seen the potential of both the show and participating contestants.

So let's dive into why you should be tuning into "I-LAND 2" and supporting the contestants in their idol journey.

Survival Program Factor & Skilled Producers

Mnet

The survival programs per year has certainly increased by a considerable margin, making it so we get at least 3 or more a year. All of them generally adhere to the same, tried and true formula. This includes gathering talented contestants, have them go through a series of missions in order to determine whether or not they're ready for the public stage, then call upon the public to vote for their favorite idol hopeful in hopes of pushing them into a seat on the debut lineup. Although we're so used to survival programs, it still remains just as exciting, with the talent level seemingly increasing at every stage of the competition. "I-LAND 2" is no different, as the very first episode showcased the immense skill of these contestants. Hearing some of their backstory and seeing them lay it down on stage makes audiences naturally want to have a hand at helping them to achieve their dreams.

Mnet

Helping them along the way is a skilled lineup of producers that are recognized both publicly and behind the scenes. The producers include BIGBANG's TaeYang, music producers VVN and 24, along with performance directors PROWDMON's Monika AND YGX's LeeJung. With the multiple achievements under their belt and proven talent, netizens are positive that they'll be able to effectively guide the contestants to the next level, elevating their innate talent to even greater heights.

These two factors alone have made audiences excited even prior to the official premiere of "I-LAND 2" and excitement will certainly rise in the future too.

Smaller Contestant Pool And Unbelievable Talent

"I-LAND 2" Official Instagram

When survival competition programs first started gaining traction, these shows had upwards to 100 idol hopefuls vying for a spot on the debut lineup. However, "I-LAND 2" follows the trend of its recent predecessors, greeting audiences with 24 lovely and talented contestants. With a smaller pool, it's possible to really dive into their charms one by one and not have to worry about spreading your attention so thin. It also allows the contestants the ability to level up even faster than before, as being with such talented colleagues will ultimately help them in the long run, drawing strength from those around them and the supportive fans watching at home.

A smaller contestant pool also allows the show to better highlight the talent of all the girls. In competition shows of even 50+, it becomes all the more difficult to discover the hidden gems and who might improve the most over the course of the program. And while it would be easy to support the ones who are already brimming with talent, it's also a skill to continue moving forward despite the numerous setbacks they might face. If the Entrance Test performances has shown anything, it's that these girls are just getting started and are ready to dominate the music stage.

Current Netizen Sentiment

Kpopmap

With the premiere of the first episode, netizens are flocking to social media and the Entrance Test videos comment section on YouTube, showering the girls with unlimited praise. They've naturally started to hone in on their favorites, actively supporting them in anyways possible. Fan accounts have been set up and the growing fandom now waits with bated breath for the next episode.

Kpopmap

Additionally, the overall sentiment towards "I-LAND 2" is particularly positive, showing just how much audiences have come together to support the program and its contestants after just one episode. A large majority of mentions can be found on viral social media platform, TikTok, as fans compile various clips to showcase their favorite moments and performances from the episode. As the program continues, the "I-LAND 2" fanbase will surely grow and even more netizens will end up actively supporting their favorite contestant. Expectations for the show is high, due to the success of the last iteration and the producers' well-proven credibility.

Now, things are only getting started for "I-LAND 2". Will you be joining the idol hopefuls on their journey to debut?

The 5th generation of K-Pop is all the rage right now and dominating this generation as one of the top rising groups is none other than RIIZE. With talented members, gorgeous visuals, and addictive music, RIIZE is steadily making their mark on the industry. Their latest comeback with the prologue single 'Impossible' was a house track that featured outstanding choreography, and the member who caught fans' attention the most with his unmatched dancing skills was Shotaro.

Thoroughly impressed by Shotaro's flawless talent, we were left wanting more. So, it got us thinking about a dream variety show where Shotaro could collaborate with fellow K-Pop idols who were also known for their incredible skills.

So, here are the top 5 idol dancers we would love to see collab with RIIZE's Shotaro!

1. Shotaro x SHINee's TaeMin

RIIZE on X / TaeMin's Instagram

The person who wants this collaboration even more than us is probably Shotaro himself. TaeMin is Shotaro's role model and as we all know, TaeMin is one of the best, if not THE best dancer in K-Pop. A collaboration between the reigning King and a rising Prince would be fantastic, to say the least. Both dancers have their own unique groove and style that, we believe, would complement each other wonderfully.

2. Shotaro x SEVENTEEN's Hoshi

RIIZE on X / Hoshi's Instagram

Another dancing machine whose talent knows no bounds, Hoshi would be perfect for a dance collaboration with Shotaro. With both Hoshi and Shotaro being sunshine personified, this collab would break the internet for being the coolest and the cutest at the same time. We can already imagine the two idols getting along well together and we would love to see them come up with an original choreography.

3. Shotaro x EXO's Lay Zhang

RIIZE on X / Lay's Instagram

If we're talking about the best of the best when it comes to dance, we cannot possibly forget Lay Zhang. The idol recently made his comeback on Korean music shows with his latest song 'Psychic'. With the man, the myth, and the legend back, we would love to see him dance with SM's rising star, Shotaro. From one dance prodigy to another, this could be a collaboration that's truly one of a kind.

4. Shotaro x KISS OF LIFE's Natty

RIIZE on X / Natty's Instagram

Widely recognized as one of the it-girls of K-Pop right now, Natty is an outstanding dancer, to say the least. A collaboration between the two 5th-generation dance icons - Natty and Shotaro, would make the headlines for days. Both artists have a knack for a variety of dance styles and are known for their high-energy, precise performances. We'd love to see a fusion of different dance styles from them.

5. Shotaro x New:ID's Wilson

RIIZE on X / New:ID's Instagram

Currently a trainee under MLD Entertainment, New:ID's Wilson is already gaining attention from all over the world for his dance skills. New:ID's SNS is buzzing with dance cover videos and fans just can't get enough of Wilson's moves. Collaborating with Shotaro would be a great opportunity for Wilson to learn from his sunbaenim and give us even more reasons to fall in love with both of them all over again.

Which K-Pop idol do you want to see Shotaro collaborate with? Tell us on X!

The cozy comfort of a much-awaited Saturday morning was settling in when I tuned in to the Coachella Week 2 "Sahara" stage live broadcast. Having witnessed the absolute grandeur of ATEEZ's Week 1 performance at Coachella, I was mostly expecting a reiteration of the same iconic level for Week 2. However, what we got was something out of this world.

One phrase kept going round and round in my mind as I watched this ATEEZ set at Coachella week 2. This is a ritual of love. Love for music, love for performance, and very distinctly, love for each other. ATEEZ's Coachella week 2 performance was not just one of the best performances at Coachella this year, but it was a glorious invocation of the muses. Having studied literature and art for all my life, I cannot possibly think of a better way to describe the breathless brilliance of this performance.

Coachella on X

Getting the obvious out of the way, of course, ATEEZ's confidence, panache, showmanship, vocals, rap, dance, and all other technicalities were much more polished than in week 1. The boys were now more aware of the stage, and having had one go at it, they were definitely more relaxed. In Korean, this state of mind where one recognizes scope or room to expand is called "yeoyu" (여유).

Yeoyu is something you see in a seasoned warrior, and when our Captain walked onto the stage that night with his members, ATEEZ looked nothing short of warrior princes coming for the throne. Every single member stood out in their own unique way, with their versatile talents on full display. The visuals were top-tier, as always, the styling - en pointe, and the vibes - immaculate. The rap came across power-packed and smooth, the vocals were resounding yet delicate when need be, and energy was at an all-time high. These men knew what they were doing, even with the slightest gaze they held out to the audience, and the effortlessness of it all elevated the performance to a whole new level.

Coachella on X

This time, it was as if ATEEZ was putting their lives on the line and thankfully, the camera work delivered in picking up the detailed nuances of this performance. Even as I write this, I'm taken back to SeongHwa, sword in hand, screaming into the sky to call forth the last ounce of strength he needed to pour his all into his art. When SeongHwa roared, like lightning sent back to the heavens, the lump in my throat threatened to escape, only to be held back by the realization that I was looking at a spitting image of Sung JinWoo from "Solo Leveling". Now, I need that live-action to happen, and I need SeongHwa to play humanity's greatest hunter.

Embed from Getty Images

The very next thing I remember is a singular black tear running down his cheek as he stared right down at the camera. This moment has gone viral and for good reason, too, as artists flock to SeongHwa, having found their new muse.

However, it wasn't just the aesthetics of it all that left an impression. To me, as an ATINY and a Hallyu Journalist, this tear represented how far ATEEZ had come. The unstilted passion, diligence, hard work, and endless struggle they endured culminated in this one defining moment when they were on top of the world. ATEEZ, who started from nothing, created something, and won everything, were declaring to the world that they were just getting started.

The respect ATEEZ had for the Coachella stage, for the audience, and for everyone who supported them, especially ATINY, is what that tear symbolized to my eye, but like all art, this, too, is up to your interpretation.