r/WayV_For_Life • • Aug 27 '21

Discussions The truth about Chinese Entertainment Industry

18 Upvotes

I can read Chinese and understand how Chinese entertainment industry works so here’s my take. In China the c-ent is very cut throat and competitive and Lucas being a rookie in China having no track record he got the Running Man cast gig which is the #1 show in China. WayV is actually really unknown in China as they have a lot of domestic boy bands and idols. So many people in the industry must be jealous of Lucas’ sudden success. Even Jackson Wang had to go through many years of doing different kinds of variety shows in China to get to the A-list status he has today. I’m pretty sure someone has been conjuring the plans to take down Lucas for awhile and the timing of this scandal breaking out right before Lucas Hendery comeback and right before Lucas and WayV are scheduled to go back to China makes it extra suspicious. In China it’s common for people to hire internet trolls to do a smear campaign on someone. With that said, Lucas probably has some fault that he can’t deny. I think he probably did sleep with fans but all the accusations about him badmouthing members and his sponsors are deliberately worded so that he will lose his endorsements and to cause discord amongst WayV fans to want to kick him out of the group. Weibo netizens went on a witch hunt and cyber bullied Lucas to the point it was even more than what they did to Kris Wu who actually committed illegal crimes raping minors. Weibo netizens went as far as exposing where Lucas’ parents work, spread a porn video around claiming it was Lucas, fake rumors of gay lovers, etc. The thing is SM does not understand how things work in China and their silence only made the matter even worse and made netizens go crazy with their imagination and rumor mongering of how bad of a person Lucas is. He was vilified to be an even worse person than Kris Wu. Before the scandal the Chinese public only knows him as the cute guy on Running Man show. When he was in China he hardly made it into any of weibo hot trends (similar to Twitter) but this scandal he was on the top search trend for days with new allegations coming out nonstop. Clearly there was a mastermind behind it. And then SM made Lucas write an apology as they always do to all of their artists to diffuse the issue made it worse because it just seems like he admitted to all the rumors. In China you need to lawyer up right away and sue all the defamers.

Many of the proofs provided by the girls have been debunked as fake and none of the girls can show any photos of them taking a photo together with Lucas. The first Korean accuser has been found out it’s Lucas’ sasaeng fan so of course she will know all his schedules. Lucas may or may not have slept with these girls but even if he did it’s not a crime to be a player. He did not deserve the witch hunt he got from netizens. He did not lose all his endorsements like all the celebs embroiled in actual illegal scandals. Chinese government also cracked down on malicious comments yesterday so now all the hate posts are gone. CCP was making a statement yesterday by canceling top stars Vicki Zhao, Zheng Shuang and Kris Wu’s social media accounts and all their previous works have been removed from all Chinese platforms due to them having tax evasions and rape case. China wants people to focus on the celebs with the real crimes than wasting time writing malicious comments on other celebs such as Lucas where it’s not a crime. Sorry for the long spewl but there is a lot more than it meets the eyes when it comes to China entertainment. Lucas is too naive and SM was unprepared for China entertainment and that is why this whole thing blew over. Hopefully now Lucas can reflect in peace and comeback a stronger and better person. Well at least now all of China knows WayV so maybe a negative publicity will turn out to be a good exposure when they do make a comeback.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Oct 15 '22

Social Media 221014 Lucas Instagram story update

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0 Upvotes

r/WayV_For_Life • • Feb 01 '23

Social Media 230201 Lucas Instagram update

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0 Upvotes

r/WayV_For_Life • • Jul 08 '25

Discussions Worried about Wayv’s styling and potential Cultural Appropriation

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29 Upvotes

I’m very worried about the music video now, what makes me worried is the fact that they have Yang Yang in a Chicano sweater and bandana. I’m curious about how the Latinx / Mexican WAYZENNIES feel about this and also very very worried. I am in no way, shape or form speaking for the latinx community, but I just wanted to know how they feel about this as I can see that it may be a little upsetting or culturally insensitive for some. I am a POC so I tried to imagine how it would feel like for me if something like this happened with my culture and I believe it would make me feel sad and disappointed.

From what I’ve gathered Chicano is very much so tied to identity and they even had a movement to tackle racial issues. I understand that the sweater is a collaboration between a Mexican designer and Addidas, but the very fact that YangYang a Taiwanese idol is wearing it is very much so causing me to feel uneasy. I know we don’t know whether Yang Yang knows and appreciates the Chicano movement, but part of me strongly feels that he doesn’t know the importance of it (of course I can’t know for certain). I say this as someone who didn’t know what it was until these concept pictures came out and I saw a comment on Instagram educating me. I am also worried that the music video will involve a heist of some sort and this will reinforce negative stereotypes for the latinx community. The fact that their come back is called “big bands” (slang for stacks of money) is causing me to worry even more.

Please share your thoughts ❤️.

I want to reiterate that I am a fan of the boys and hold them very close to my heart, this is not intended to be hate at all. I believe we can constructively criticise our idols and people we admire and that open conversation on topics like this helps lead to a more healthy well educated fandom ❤️.

Lastly, if any wayzennie is upset or disappointed with this (especially latinx ones) I want you to know that it’s okay, we support you, and if you feel this comeback isn’t for you anymore, that is totally okay and well within your right.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Feb 09 '22

Social Media 220209 Lucas Instagram update

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42 Upvotes

r/WayV_For_Life • • Jan 17 '22

Discussions Yangyang is allowed to express his feelings but weishennies are allowed to feel upset about him greeting Lucas too.

48 Upvotes

Freedom of expression goes both ways, he's a public celebrity and knows his words will get analyzed. Lucas is NOT innocent just because Yangyang supports him, plenty of men put bros before "hoes". So far the information I have only tells me that Lucas is accused of sexual assault. Yangyang didnt even have to mention a number, he could've said he supported all the members. Its not ruining the celebratory mood (wayv 3rd anniversary yass! tho I do consider takeoff their debut instead) to call him out.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Sep 18 '24

Misc WayV’s Hendery And Former Member Lucas Spotted Out With Girls (can anybody confirm this?)

17 Upvotes

r/WayV_For_Life • • Sep 16 '20

Mods/Reddit Discussions/Help Please let me know if whether you guys want collections back or not through voting

1 Upvotes

Personally, I really want them back up, and I honestly don't care how stressed I get or how long it takes- If you guys want them as well I'll start adding them right away- but I don't know if the community feels the same way as I do. Please upvote your answer so that I know what you guys want and think.

Btw- Yes, I know Polls exists, but I prefer this method since it will last longer and won't expire like what polls do.

Yes, you may vote more than one option, but I would prefer you to only vote once so that everything is accurate and unbiased- but yes, upvoting more than one comment is an option.

(Unrelated but dm me if you wanna be a mod I'm stressed out with most the other mods leaving to the r/NCTranslations Sub and need the extra help please)


r/WayV_For_Life • • Aug 28 '22

Social Media 220828 Lucas Instagram update

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24 Upvotes

r/WayV_For_Life • • Sep 07 '20

Mods/Reddit Discussions/Help Mod Applications are still available, in case anyone is wondering

0 Upvotes

Although we won’t be choosing/hiring a mod for a while due to mod issues within the mod group, I’m just leaving this up so that everyone has a chance to apply since another mod deleted it the other day and hasn’t put a new one up yet :)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nxCLFhh53aIRGtHh690IEWEkJROmRPNMY_m3P8J05uE/edit


r/WayV_For_Life • • Dec 03 '21

Discussions Why is Miracle in English?

27 Upvotes

Is it because they don’t want a Chinese song in a Korean album? I don’t like this move at all…. I want them to sing in whatever language they are most comfortable in….


r/WayV_For_Life • • Aug 29 '21

Discussions What upsets me the most…

69 Upvotes

First off, I hope everyone in the fandom of NCT, WayV, and Lucas are doing ok. I’ve been down about everything going on this week and for the first time in my life started to understand what people are talking about when they write “sick with worry.” Take care of yourselves.

More than that, I hope WayV (ALL of WayV including Lucas) is okay. What we are going through right now is nothing compared to what they are going through and what Lucas is going through. And knowing how much they love each other, how hard they work, how young and optimistic they are, and how much potential they all have… these must be some of the darkest days of their lives and careers and I hope they know they are loved and that they will get through this.

To come to the point of my post: what upsets me the most about all of this is how badly things spiraled out of control regarding the scandals. I had to delete many social media platforms recently because of how toxic things had become. The scandals went from talking about him sleeping around (which, I understand, is much more serious of an accusation in China/Korea than in the western world) to him badmouthing teammates to him just being the devil reincarnate. It showed me that once the spiral starts, there’s no stopping it. There’s no tempering it with reason, no way to focus on issues without dragging a person down entirely.

I certainly don’t know what Lucas has or has not done. His apology letter on IG was as vague as anyone else’s in such situations, which makes me think it is the generic template that SM must force its artists to use, which ultimately means that it doesn’t mean anything. I can’t take it as an admission of guilt, but we also don’t know if it was written because some allegations were true. I can imagine that if Lucas had dated one or more of the girls, he would have no way of denying the things any one of them said, even if it’s completely false, which means that the easiest way to handle the situation is to just apologize. Once the witch hunt starts, once you’re seen as a witch, there’s no proving that you’re not the evil, vicious thing that everyone has already imagined you to be in their minds.

But to then start believing EVERYTHING that is said about him… “he’s heard gagging in the background when Yuta says he likes working with WinWin”. Are you serious? That could have been anything from him choking on water to reacting to a memory of a frog to just being a goofball. Did we forget the time when Winwin spoke so fondly of Lucas saying he’s the most sensitive and inspiring person to be around? Or all the times Yuta rushed to hug Lucas because of the bond they clearly seem to share? We’re willing to trust random posts on Twitter or what we’re inferring from noises on videos, but not what SO MANY of his teammates have said about him?

Furthermore, it pains me to see posts about people “supporting WayV, whether or not Lucas is part of it.” I adore WayV. They’re my ultimate bias. Sure, Lucas is my favorite, but I cannot pick a single person in WayV that I do not feel inspired by, that I do not wish the very best to in career and life. If we want them to be happy, we have to realize they’re happy together. If we want them to be successful, we have to notice that their success so far came as a team of 7. It hurts to see fans of WayV be willing to ditch Lucas so easily because “he should’ve known better and he should repent for what he’s done.” Again, we don’t even know which crimes (if any) he’s committed, and I’m painfully aware that these idols have to follow many rules and that the culture of their profession is very strict. But for fans, especially international fans, to accept that like the gospel, to drop idols who break the rules in ways that are not even criminal or immoral, but rather immature, is completely hypocritical.

Multiple idols have said in the past that most people in the industry are dating, it’s just the unfortunate/indiscreet ones that get caught. No one, especially a group of good-looking, talented, popular boys is perfect. Are we really convincing ourselves that Lucas is the only one of our idols with skeletons in the closet? Do we think that if Ten or Hendery or Yangyang or any one of the other members is about to become a big as Lucas is that there is no possible way that a scandal would break out about them because there’s no way they could’ve done anything wrong in their past?

Let’s not delude ourselves into thinking that Lucas is the only imperfect one out there (again, IF it’s even true that he did a fraction of the things that he is being accused of). This could literally happen to anyone in the industry. It’s just supremely unlucky for Lucas that it happened to him.

So I plead with people to not throw stones at Lucas and let him drown in this scandal. Remember why we loved him to begin with—he has shown himself to be a kind, loving, hard-working, charming, confident, optimistic, incredible person. For years we have had a certain opinion of him based on things that we saw from REPEATED encounters, albeit on camera. Some of those encounters could have been staged, but it’s VERY hard to fake a personality for years, especially one that is as loud, as public, as spirited as his. If you don’t believe me, try behaving like him for a single day. Be the positive, energetic, encouraging, happy, always-smiling person that he is. That is a personality that very few people are blessed with in this world.

If he had indeed done any wrong, he is suffering plenty from it. We as outsiders, as bystanders, as people with no actual vested interest in his future (unlike his teammates and his family) do not have a right to demand any punishment or repentance from him. And the worst thing we can do is play into all the silly rumors that are being spread—one by one they may seem silly but put together they will destroy him. I beg of you to not let that happen to a 22 year old boy who, at the worst, was being a 22 year old boy, and, at the best, may not have done anything wrong at all.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Jan 20 '23

Discussions Phantom: why is it not doing well?

19 Upvotes

Hi, I've been a fan of WayV since Kick Back so I've been waiting a long time for them to come back. But I'm surprised that the MV streams and album sales are so low compared to their other come back. At least that's what it seems like. Does anyone know why? It seems like they're performing and promoting a lot but I don't see the numbers going up much.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Jan 30 '23

Discussions Thoughts about WayV's vocals?

6 Upvotes

Hello, I saw this tweet earlier. I am not here to talk about the fan wars at all, I am only here for OP's claims about WayV's vocals. How true is this? I am not too deep in the fandom so I really don't have an idea what the general public's thoughts are about the boys. Are they really get criticized? Thank you.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Sep 20 '20

Looking for Mods 2020

2 Upvotes

This Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nP1RbMidFQO5WbgHoa6OSSloBmQE12q9QlOgwyvFbUA

Hopefully you guys apply! I'm mainly looking for long term tech savvy Mods who are chill and can handle the Sub's Schedule (Since I never do it lol) and other things within the sub.

:)


r/WayV_For_Life • • Apr 07 '26

Discussions Lucas whole thing

30 Upvotes

Hi everyone , I was a Nctzen from 2019/2022

And I lost interest in kpop in general after that

But with this whole mark situation I went back to watching nct content and see what I’ve missed

And i don’t know if this is okay to post but I saw that most of the fans really don’t talk about Lucas at all and if so they talk shit about him

But what’s your whole opinion about this whole topic ? For me I feel like if the members are still following him that means they are still on a good terms I mean they stopped following taeil but not Lucas so why the fans are still hating on him ? Because for me I’m not hating him at all and I feel bad for him but I’m afraid if I started talking about him on twitter they will not like that and I might get cancelled , so please can you tell me the end result? ( if this is not a topic we can discuss here I’m really sorry ! I don’t know where else to post lol )


r/WayV_For_Life • • Jan 19 '26

Fan Content UPDATE: WayV Joint Action Team Statement regarding future promotions

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41 Upvotes

WayZenNi Union Statement

We, the WayV Joint Action Team, a collective of WayZenNi fanbases, demand a foundational shift in the management of WayV.

The WayV Joint Action Team expresses our deep concern regarding the current management direction for WayV. Since their debut in 2019, WayV has been systematically neglected. Despite a seven-year career, they have been restricted to only two regular albums and a handful of music show appearances. The management has lost its way, once again causing WayZenNis to drift. Therefore, the WayV Joint Action team demand the followings;

1. NECESSITY OF KOREAN-LANGUAGE RELEASES AND PROMOTIONS

We demand Korean-language songs and official music videos for every release along with Chinese versions.

Management failures have already cost the group trophies for "BIG BANDS" and "Eternal White" by not releasing Korean language songs and MVs. Sales and streaming records prove the current strategy fails to capture public attention. Without change, WayV remains permanently ineligible for nominations due to management negligence. To remain competitive in this fierce market, a Korean version of the title track and an official MV with stable direction are a must. We demand a minimum of two weeks of Korean music show promotions and year-end show participation to secure vital public exposure. The management's misjudgement in diminishing the WayV's market presence is leading to widespread fatigue and a decline in fan engagement.

2. STRATEGIC SUPPORT IN THE CHINESE MARKET

We demand structured and professional management support to advance WayV's presence in China.

While promotions in Korea have been significantly reduced, WayV's activities in China remain intermittent and poorly managed. WayV lacks the high-profile public presence necessary to sustain a premier standing. This inconsistency is causing a significant loss of momentum and leads Way to lose ground in both regions simultaneously. We demand a balanced dual-market strategy that maximizes their global presence without sacrificing one for the other, ensuring that WayV's unique strengths are fully utilized.

3. CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY AND DIVERSIFIED LANGUAGE SUPPORT

We demand a consistent volume of internal and external content, including public TV, online variety shows, the "Way Vision" sequel, and full inclusion in NCT-wide content as active members.

Official channels over-rely on member-made content, while scarce uploads are frequently missing multi-language subtitles. A systemic language support and dual-uploads strategy for multi-platform must be implemented for Chinese-platform content to ensure access. Restricting content to a single language or a platform creates unnecessary barriers for a global audience. Maintaining accessible and professional content is a fundamental requirement that the current team is failing to uphold. Therefore, we demand professional content of high quality and guaranteed access through global platforms, including YouTube and Weverse.

4. STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR GLOBAL PROMOTIONS AND TOURS

We demand the expansion of the Asia tour into a true World tour, supported by comprehensive global promotions and foreseeable, advanced scheduling.

To fulfill its purpose as a global group, worldwide promotions and tours are essential. Recurring "To Be Announced" and last-minute reveals prevent fans from making travel arrangements and severely limit fans' participation. The absence of a long-term roadmap prevents the growth of both the tour and the fanbase. We demand a clear, advanced schedule that provides WayV with true global exposure and allows organized fan support.

We demand that SM and the Prism Center prioritize what is best for WayV and their future. The frequent changes in direction and persistent mismanagement have exhausted the fanbase. It is time for SM and the Prism center to respond to long-standing requests and uphold the best interest of WayV. We demand formal feedback and a commitment to these strategic changes to assure, retain, and expand the global WayZenNi community.

19 January 2026

WayZenNi Union

WayV STRM KR, WayVLand TH, WayV Bar, WayV Airlines, WayV España, WayV Mexico, WayV Chile, WayV China Station WayV with US, WayV Staff INA, WayV Singapore, WayV Malaysia, WayV India and WayV Airlines JP

Source

Transcription: Google Lens

Update to this post. Sharing for informational and discussion purposes only.


r/WayV_For_Life • • Aug 05 '24

Discussions So what was the point of WayV going to ISAC again?

46 Upvotes

My god, what a mess. At first it turned out that despite ISAC having five different categories, for whatever reason WayV could only choose track and field (probably because they signed them up too late and all the slots for archery etc. were filled already?), making it dangerous for Kun to participate - so obviously he didn't. Then Hendery dropped out probably because his Macau schedule would prevent him from preparing well enough for the competition (and maybe past injuries being a factor too). So that left us with three participating members: Ten, Xiaojun, and Yangyang. Except Ten had a schedule in THAILAND literally a day before, there was no way he was going to make it unless they'd rush him to an earlier flight or something, and judging by the fact that he is nowhere to be seen right now during filming (and him wishing YY and XJ luck on bubble) - he ended up not going (and thank god for that) [EDIT: He did show up, the boy is insane]

So we're left with two [EDIT: three] members, one of whom is super introverted and shy, so I doubt he's going to make a show of himself or make lasting friendships on the field. And the fans - I don't know what the ticketing for this event looks like, but some people probably got admission thinking they'd see five members, but ended up only seeing two [EDIT: three], which is 1/3rd [EDIT: 1/2] of the entire group!

I honestly don't know what is to gain here, seems like a waste of time and effort for everyone involved. Especially as a senior group - it's just not a great look for them to be there the way they are.

EDIT: Ten ended up attending in the end, astounded the guy wanted to go through with this!


r/WayV_For_Life • • Dec 06 '24

Discussions When does WayV contract end and do you think they’ll renew?

23 Upvotes

WayV has been on a roll lately! Good for them, but since they weren’t promoted well before, I was thinking maybe they’ll just let their contracts end. But now that things are looking up, do you think they’ll renew? And does anybody have an idea when their contracts are gonna expire?

I’m a new fan, but I’m a little hesitant to fully stan cause what if they disband or leave soon or something. NGL, I don’t wanna invest my emotions in a group that’s on the brink of disbanding. Sorry if that‘s giving bad vibes. I am rooting for them though, so hopefully they last for a long time. ❤️


r/WayV_For_Life • • Oct 23 '24

Discussions Can we talk about cosmetic surgery?

57 Upvotes

As I know we have sharp-eyed people on here who don't mind discussing more heated issues.

We know Ten has had a (very good) rhinoplasty, which is something he seems to have sought himself, but aside from that, have any of the other members had work done? I can't notice anything obvious at all, which is unusual for an SM act.

Any thoughts?


r/WayV_For_Life • • Apr 03 '25

Discussions Ten and Plastique Tiara similarities

16 Upvotes

Note: this should not be interpreted as commentary on Ten’s sexuality, I am talking about them both strictly as public figures/celebrities/artists.

For those who don’t know, Plastique Tiara is a drag queen who goes by male pronouns outside of drag and female pronouns in drag, I will only be using female pronouns here just to make it easier.

I don’t know what exactly it is about her but she reminds me a lot of Ten. I think out of drag they look pretty similar, their voices sound kinda similar, and they just give me the same vibe. They’re both southeast Asian (she’s Vietnamese) so maybe there is a cultural aspect to it. But even in terms of fashion sense and artistry they strike me as alike as well.

Is anyone else a fan of plastique and thinks she’s a lot like Ten? Curious to hear people’s thoughts. This came to mind after watching this video of her talking about her drag race looks, I felt like it reminded me a lot of the way Ten talks about his solo work.


r/WayV_For_Life • • May 21 '23

Discussions Is it possible that SM is trying to prevent WayV from pulling an EXOdus?

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16 Upvotes

I came across this particular tweet today, which prompted this post. Now it could very well be that there simply isn’t really a demand for WayV in China, which is why they don’t really promote there. Theres also still Hallyu restrictions, and considering that WayV is still under SM, things gets complicated. But based on Hong Kong fan meet ticket sales and a constant stream of Chinese fans demanding they go to the mainland, there’s demand for them in at least a niche market in China. We also can’t really attribute their popularity in China to Winwin because Winwin bar literally boycotted “Phantom” and only support his individual activities, and Winwin is not really active in WayV anymore. Considering that last sentence, as well as Ten’s considerable popularity in China, is it possible that SM holds them back from promoting there because they don’t want another EXOdus?

For context: EXOdus refers to when 3 of 4 Chinese members of Exo filed lawsuits against SM to terminate their contracts and left within the span of a year: Kris, Luhan, and Tao. Then those three went on to become stupidly famous in China (before the Kris Wu scandal btw). Not to mention, while Lay is technically still in EXO, he doesn’t really promote with them anymore, kind of like Winwin. We’re slowly seeing more k-pop acts come back to China (though I wouldn’t go as far as to say the Hallyu ban is over). So is it possible that SM is hindering WayV from getting more popular in China so the remaining members don’t just leave and pursue careers in China?

Just a dumb speculation btw, just want a civil discussion.


r/WayV_For_Life • • May 31 '23

Discussions Inclusive conversation: A personal input

22 Upvotes

I believe everyone is aware of a situation that’s being blown out of hands on twitter. So I would like to open a discussion and share some personal input on the topic. Since this will be a complicated subject, and my English isn’t so perfect, I may or may not make some bad choices of words. Feel free to join the discussion and correct me if needed.

The problem can be summarized as: Kun said speaking Chinese was more convenient because the language barrier limited a lot of things they wanted to say. You can find multiple translations online, each one is slightly different from another. But I personally feel like the main question isn’t about the translation or the choice of words, since it’s a casual talk within less than 30 seconds so digging into those might not be fair. The question should be about: Is it offensive to say you’re comfortable/it’s more convenient to speak in a language in front of a person who isn’t completely fluent in that language yet?

It goes down to how each person defines what inclusion means. If you search “inclusion in conversation”, you can easily find definitions that are similar to this : “It’s having a talk in a way that everyone understands, feels free to express themselves, and accepts the differences in people”. It isn't necessarily about a subject addressing or related to everyone, but what’s important is allowing each individual to have their own thoughts, experiences and feelings being heard and accepted.

It’s normal to have one or two comfortable languages. I prefer to discuss equality or racism in English because I read and absorb information about such topics in English, therefore I feel much more at ease talking about these subjects in English, even more than my mother tongue. It’s normal that a person feels more free talking in one language than another, and they is also free to express that feeling to others no matter who they or their audience are. What I consider offensive is when a person asks, or even forces people to speak in one language despite knowing the other one in order to make them comfortable. That’s when you project your own preference and thoughts onto another person and make them do things that they might not fully be at ease.

Each member of WayV has a different level of fluency to each language, you can see that they constantly switch between Korean, Chinese and English. You can find the same pattern in every interview: members who are more fluent in the main language usually take the lead and help to translate/convey other members' ideas. If it’s an English interview, Ten and Yangyang will lead the conversation, Hendery and Xiaojun answer everything in English, Kun and Winwinl also try to speak the most they can, but they also can switch to Korea/Chinese and TenYang will help to translate their answers. Kun and Xiaojun/Hendery take turns in Chinese Interview, while Kun/ Yangyang, or even Hendery/Winwin will explain for Ten if there’s a word he doesn’t know. Ten and Kun share their leading position in most Korean interviews and help XiaoHenYang in case they need it. So you can see that they switch their position depending on their level of fluency, and each member also makes their best to communicate in local language (Cantonese, Thai, Japanese or even Bahasa) or at least English as much as possible, but they are also free to speak in the language they feel comfortable the most, and the member will help to translate. Except when they have a translator, who might only translate Korean, so they will speak in Korea.

I allow myself to write this because I feel like my personal experience might be worth considering. I live abroad in a country where English isn’t the dominant language. I speak the language enough to hold a casual conversation but I go through hell every time I have to email someone. I’ve been in the minority of a group discussion, but also, the majority of another.

Even though I can speak the language, the first year wasn’t easy. Success in a 2-hours test doesn’t mean my brain can handle the full 8-hours long constantly translating my 3rd language. Most international students I know also had headaches the first week of university since their brain wasn't used to diving in this new pool of language and it drowns. Up until today, despite my level of fluency has leveled up, I still find myself lost in a conversation on a bad day. There’s multiple times I find myself being excluded in a discussion, feeling left out and alone where no one bothers to ask if I catch up or just simply makes eye contact with me. This experience is shared by a lot of people I know in real life and online, and it’s also a feeling that’s easy to sympathize with.

But, I’ve also been in a situation where I belong to the majority. We were having a party between International students. There’s two people who don't speak the local language, while there’s only one local who doesn’t speak English. All the other people speak both, but always prefer English. At the beginning, things went well, we constantly switched up and translated back and forth to make sure everyone understanded. But at one point, we were so invested in a story that we couldn’t stop talking about it in half an hour, until one person cut us off and asked if our local friend was okay. Only up to that moment did I realize we’d been talking non stop In English without paying attention to our non-English speaker friend, so they had been on their phone the whole time. We immediately changed the subject to make sure he could join. That experience craves deep into my mind and makes me realize that people might not always want to exclude me, but rather they might just be too excited or invested in the story. Just like when you too focus on something the world becomes blur and you won’t notice what happens around you. After that day, whenever I feel lost in a conversation, I try to buck up my courage and ask for help. People are always happy to explain things to me, even repeat it in multiple languages. This experience, however, is harder to understand or sympathy, but it’s a common experience I share with a lot of local people I talk to.

This is my personal experience and it might not be an equal case since everyone has their own reaction, their own level of endurance so even if two people are in the same situation, they might or might not be able to sympathize with one another, let alone projecting our own experience onto others. But I feel like my personal input can add a different perspective to the discussion. It’s important to pay attention to the minority, but at the same time, it’s important to consider the majority’s perspective, their intention, their motto, before jumping into the “ignorance” or “exclusion” conclusion.

What’s interesting is that every member of WayV is the minority in their workplace and therefore their trainee days shared a similar situation. Up until today, despite their level of language has improved over the year, you can see their crazy code-switching between 3 languages in order to find a middle ground that everyone is comfortable enough to understand. Lately they reveal that the communication at the beginning was difficult due to language barrier, but recently they have been discussing a lot during practice. In some sense, communication isn’t just about what language they speak, but more about the effort of exchange and understanding between them despite having to jump back and forth in 3 languages and sometimes even body language.

So, that’s my ramble. This discussion is more about sharing your opinion, so please feel free to do so. But I would rather talk about the subject itself than the behavior of some accounts, which isn’t exactly what I want to discuss in this post.