KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Malaysian K-pop fans have a new reason to celebrate. Alicia Wong Lingling — better known simply as Lingling — is set to become the first Malaysian to officially debut in a K-pop girl group.
The 19-year-old from Klang, Selangor, rose to fame last year on Mnet’s survival show I-LAND 2: N/a, where she captured attention with her multilingual skills, poised stage presence, and endearing personality.
Korea JoongAng Daily reported today that after placing second in the show’s preliminary voting, she’s now secured a spot in Leanbranding’s first global girl group, scheduled to debut in late May.
The group’s name and official debut date are still under wraps, but anticipation is already building, especially after the agency confirmed Lingling’s inclusion.
Her personal Instagram account was launched today, marking her transition from trainee to full-fledged idol.
Fans remember Lingling’s time on I-LAND 2 for her versatility and charm.
A former YG Entertainment trainee, she’s fluent in Chinese, Malay, English, and Korean — a skillset that earned her hashtags like #PolyglotGenius and #WakeOneInterpreter on her profile.
Lingling’s debut not only signals a new chapter for her but also a breakthrough for Malaysian representation in the Korean pop industry.
Leanbranding told Korea JoongAng Daily that more details about the debut will be released soon on its official social media channels.