Lee Hae-in reveals she was ranked 1st but lost debut to vote rigging

Lee Hae-in, currently working as a director, has opened up about the heartbreak of being a victim of vote manipulation during a past audition program. Despite securing the final 1st place rank, she was prevented from debuting. Although much time has passed, the experience of having her dream snatched away against her will remains a significant turning point in her life.

On the KBS 2TV show 'Happy Together: Glad We're Not Alone' broadcast on the 21st, Lee appeared alongside Natty from the group KISS OF LIFE. The two were introduced as having a special bond, having spent seven months living together in a dormitory during a past audition program while preparing to debut together.

Having spent approximately 10 years as a trainee through two different audition programs, Lee is now active in a new field as a director rather than an idol. The broadcast highlighted her journey of frustration and transition from her long trainee days to her current position.

During the show, Yoo Jae Suk asked Lee, “You were originally the final 1st place winner of an audition program, but your debut was canceled?” Lee replied calmly, “It was something that happened in the past, but I ended up unable to debut regardless of my own will.”

While her response was brief, it carried the weight of years of hardship. Recalling those days, Lee confessed, “It was very difficult back then,” explaining that as a trainee who had moved from the provinces to Seoul, she didn't even have the luxury to fully dwell on her frustrations.

“When I thought I had to go back down to my hometown, Masan, my mind went completely blank,” she said, adding, “Because I felt I had to do something quickly, I couldn't remember much of the hardship at that time.” This highlights the reality that immediately after her dream was thwarted, the struggle for survival and her next career move took precedence over her grief.

Lee's history serves as a symbol of the structural flaws within domestic audition programs.

Following her appearance on Mnet's 'Produce 101,' she continued her pursuit of stardom on Mnet's 'Idol School.' In 'Idol School,' she finished in 11th place and was not included in the debut lineup.

However, the situation changed completely once the truth came to light. The production team's vote manipulation was uncovered during an investigation, revealing that although Lee had actually secured 1st place—the position required for debut—in the actual viewer votes, she was officially recorded as finishing 11th.

Audition programs have long promoted 'fair competition' as a core value, as they determine the fate of trainees through viewer choices. However, when results are manipulated by production teams, the very premise of the competition collapses. Lee's case remains a representative example of how vulnerable the audition system can be when public choice is undermined by systemic corruption.

What is even more ironic is the immense amount of time Lee had already invested. For someone who endured two auditions and a decade of trainee life, debuting was not just a television appearance, but a goal achieved by staking a significant portion of her youth.

Nevertheless, Lee eventually shifted her focus away from becoming an idol. Paradoxically, her long experience with frustration became the catalyst for her to participate in the music industry in a different capacity.

The connection with Natty, who appeared alongside her, further illustrates Lee's journey. The two met during an audition, lived together for seven months, and remained close enough to prepare for a debut together after the program ended. While Natty eventually debuted with KISS OF LIFE, Lee built her career through a different path.

It is as if the two, who once stood at the same starting line, have walked entirely different paths.

This is why Lee's story draws renewed attention. While stories of trainees failing to debut are common, a case where a participant actually took 1st place but was denied their debut due to systemic manipulation raises a much deeper issue. It highlights the problems of industrial structure and decision-making authority that exist beyond an individual's skill or effort.

In the end, Lee did not let her career end as a failed idol trainee. After navigating a long period of frustration, she chose a new role as a director, allowing her to view the very audition system she once stood within from a new perspective.

Her 10 years of trainee life, the manipulated results, and the canceled debut were indelible scars, but they also served as the turning point that led her to her current career. Her calm reflection on the show was not merely a reminiscence, but a process of reclaiming the agency that was once taken from her.