블링원 is a singer ranked #30 in K-POP Rising Stars (Jul 2025, KI 34,780) on KONTENTS INDEX, with a peak of #25 (Feb 2025).
**BLINGONE** is a rookie girl group formed through the global K-pop audition project **"Click the Star"**, hosted by the World K-Pop Center. They debuted on June 27, 2024, at noon with their digital single *"Kiss & Call"*.
BLINGONE’s most distinctive feature is its design not as a single team but as a **country-based unit system**. "Click the Star" is structured to hold separate seasons across 32 countries, each producing a “national representative girl group,” all operating under the shared name **BLINGONE**. Unit 1 is the **world’s first K-pop girl group composed entirely of members from Peru (South America)**, while Unit 2 consists **entirely of members from China**.
The project’s slogan is: *“The K-pop training system can be established anywhere in the world—and it creates K-pop idols infused with each nation’s unique culture and identity.”* It champions a “hybrid” strategy: transplanting the Korean-style training system locally while integrating each country’s cultural identity. As BLINGONE’s debut itself—featuring a South American–origin K-pop girl group—was unprecedented, it immediately drew domestic and international media attention. Consequently, the group has been recognized first and foremost for the **experimental nature of its format**, rather than for musical achievement.
The membership composition varies by unit, and the first unit (Peru) underwent changes after debut.
**Unit 1 — Peru (Debut Lineup)**
| Stage Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |---|---|---| | KENNY | 2000.10.23 | Winner of *Click the Star* Peru; reportedly departed afterward | | ABIGAIL | 2002.12.08 | Fluent in English and Spanish | | RUBI | 2003.11.07 | Winner of *Click the Star* Peru | | MIA | Unknown | Hails from Lima; holds a black belt in taekwondo; reportedly joined the group after debut |
Approximately 5,000 applicants participated in the Peru season, and the selected members debuted after undergoing K-pop training in Seoul. Kenny’s departure and Mia’s addition were reported via English-language K-pop profile sources; official agency announcements regarding exact dates require further verification.
**Unit 2 — China**
| Stage Name | Date of Birth | |---|---| | CASSIE | 2004.01.12 | | SANDY | 2003.03.03 | | KATRINA | 2004.03.02 | | RANEE | 2004.03.15 | | JUNNY | 2005.01.30 | | CHLOE | 2006.04.04 |
Unit 2 was selected from *Click the Star* Season 2 (China & Mongolia). Detailed information regarding individual members’ positions and pre-debut backgrounds remains insufficient in publicly available sources.
**Country-Based Unit Format**
What distinguishes BLINGONE from other rookie girl groups is not its music, but rather its formation structure. Unlike typical K-pop groups that operate with a fixed lineup, BLINGONE is part of the “Click the Star” umbrella project, which launches separate seasons per country to form distinct units. Following Unit 1 (Peru) and Unit 2 (China), reports indicated Mexico and Colombia had expressed interest as the next host countries (Korea Herald).
**Localization Strategy**
During Unit 2’s activities in China, BLINGONE positioned itself as “a bridge between K-pop and C-pop” and separately launched the Chinese fan-engagement platform **VPOCA**. A defining feature is its strong emphasis on *localization*—adapting to the target country’s market and culture rather than directly transplanting the Korean system.
**Reinterpretation of Legacy IPs**
The third album *Mister* features a UK garage-style remake of KARA’s eponymous hit song—a bold attempt by rookies to reinterpret iconic K-pop IPs from the past.
**Second Half of 2023 — Project Launch**
The *Click the Star Peru Season* (Season 1) was held. Approximately 5,000 applicants participated, from whom the debut members were selected.
**June 2024 — Debut**
On June 26, the group’s debut announcement and showcase took place. Multiple media outlets reported on them under the title “The world’s first K-pop girl group composed entirely of members from South America (Peru).” Their official debut followed on June 27 at noon with the digital single *Kiss & Call*. Their first broadcast performance occurred on July 12 on ENA’s *K-POP Upchart Show*. (Note: The “debut announcement & showcase” occurred on June 26, while their “first broadcast stage” was on July 12—these dates must be clearly distinguished.)
**Second Half of 2024 — Lineup Change**
In late July, it was reported that Peruvian member Kenny had withdrawn from the group.
**February 2025 — Debut of Unit 2**
Following a Seoul showcase on February 12, China-based Unit 2 officially debuted on February 13 with the digital single *Bubble Gum*. On the same day, they performed on Mnet’s *M Countdown* as part of their comeback stage. Unit 2 was formed through *Click the Star Season 2* (China & Mongolia), for which domestic applicants reportedly totaled approximately 260,000 (as reported by *The Fact*). This marks a significant expansion in audition scale compared to Unit 1’s 5,000 applicants—a key metric highlighting growth.
**June–July 2025 — Third Album Promotions**
Third-album promotions began on June 26 with “HELLO BLINGONE.” The third album *Mister*—a UK garage remix of KARA’s “Mister”—was released on July 2 at 6 p.m. They performed on *Music Bank*’s comeback stage on July 4, adopting a “schoolgirl” concept. In mid-July, new Peruvian member Mia was officially introduced.
| Release Date | Title | Unit | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | 2024.06.27 | **Kiss & Call** | Peru (Unit 1) | Debut digital single. A Chinese version was later included in the Unit 2 single. | | 2025.02.13 | **Bubble Gum ("버블검")** | China (Unit 2) | Unit 2’s debut single. The title track quotes the classic *Overture* melody and features synth-driven, hip dance beats—embodying a kitschy, refreshing concept. | | 2025.07.02 | **Mister ("미스터")** | China Activities | UK garage remake of KARA’s “Mister.” Features a school-uniform girl kitsch concept. Spanish, Chinese, and instrumental versions exist. |
No official sales figures for initial album shipments or music chart rankings have been publicly verified.
- The project name “Click the Star” was conceived as an initiative to create country-specific girl groups across 32 countries and 32 seasons; BLINGONE represents the first two outcomes of this project (Peru and China). - Unit 1 (Peru) generated formal media attention by debuting as “the world’s first K-pop girl group composed entirely of members from South America,” while Unit 2 (China) drew significant attention due to its massive scale—approximately 260,000 applicants. Thus, under the same project name, the two units each created distinct news value through different approaches. - A documentary special covering the training process leading up to their debut was officially announced for simultaneous broadcast on Korean and Peruvian television networks; however, its actual airing and audience reception remain unconfirmed. - The official meaning behind the group name “BLINGONE” and the official fandom name have yet to be publicly disclosed.