Lua/ Kim Soo Kyung (Weki Meki)
Lua (Weki Meki): Behind The Spotlight - Exclusive Facts About Kim Soo Kyung
Among wekimeki members, Lua stood out as a talented main dancer, lead rapper, and vocalist until the group's recent disbandment on August 8, 2024. Born as Kim Soo Kyung on October 6, 2000, in Songpa District, Seoul, South Korea, she dedicated herself to her craft for four years of training before officially debuting in the K-pop scene.
Following her reveal as the third member of Weki Meki on June 3, 2017, Lua quickly established herself within the group after their August 2017 debut with their first mini-album "WEME". Notably, she graduated from Lila Arts High School with a major in Digital Sound Contents, which complemented her performing skills. While fans are curious about what weki meki members are doing now after the disbandment, Lua's journey specifically stands out due to her remarkable dancing abilities and her known admiration for Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.
Early Life and Artistic Roots
Kim Soo Kyung, who would later captivate audiences as Lua of Weki Meki, began her journey on October 6, 2000, in the vibrant Songpa District of Seoul, South Korea. This eastern Seoul neighborhood, known for its cultural significance and modern amenities, provided the backdrop for her earliest years.
Born in Songpa District, Seoul
The future K-pop star grew up in an environment that would eventually nurture her artistic talents. Unlike some wekimeki members who discovered their passion for performing later in life, Lua showed natural inclination toward movement and expression from an early age. Her birthplace in Songpa, a district known for its cultural venues and accessibility, perhaps unconsciously influenced her artistic sensibilities as she developed.
Started ballet and gymnastics at age 5
Lua's formal artistic training began remarkably early. At just five years old, she embarked on what would become a formative artistic journey, simultaneously studying ballet, belly dance, and rhythmic gymnastics. These disciplined art forms required dedication, flexibility, and performance skills that would later become hallmarks of her style as an idol. Throughout her childhood, gymnastics remained a constant, helping her develop the exceptional physical control and flexibility that weki meki members and fans would later admire.
Additionally, her continued ballet lessons contributed to her graceful movement quality and precise footwork. These early artistic pursuits created a strong foundation for the performer she would become, ultimately contributing to her position as main dancer after joining the ranks of weki meki members.
Family background and support
Behind Lua's artistic development stood her family, consisting of her parents and brother. Although detailed information about her family's specific involvement in her early training remains private, their support undoubtedly played a crucial role in facilitating her extensive childhood training.
In contrast to the typical path of many K-pop idols who join entertainment companies at young ages, Lua's artistic foundation came through these classical performance disciplines. This background in traditional performance arts distinguished her when she eventually began her K-pop training, giving her a unique perspective among weki meki members that would later enhance her performance capabilities.
Training and Debut with Weki Meki
Lua's path to K-pop stardom began when she joined Fantagio Entertainment's talent development initiative. Her early artistic training would soon evolve into professional idol preparation, setting the foundation for her future as one of the standout wekimeki members.
Joined Fantagio i-Teen program
In 2012, Fantagio launched i-Teen, an idol development project designed for gifted trainees. Kim Soo Kyung entered this program and trained for four years, becoming part of the female trainee group known as i-Teen Girls. This comprehensive program focused on developing performance skills, stage presence, and idol qualities among its participants. First of all, this structured approach to talent development proved crucial in shaping Lua's professional abilities, building upon her already strong foundation in dance.
Pre-debut performances and training
Throughout her training period, Lua participated in several pre-debut activities that helped prepare her for the spotlight:
In 2014, she performed alongside other i-Teen Girls at the Lotte World Fresh Concert on December 28
During 2015, she made cameo appearances in label-mates ASTRO's predebut web drama "To Be Continued" alongside fellow trainees
She continued developing her dancing skills, building upon her background in ballet and rhythmic gymnastics
Moreover, this training period coincided with the rise of some other weki meki members to prominence. While trainees Choi Yoo-jung and Kim Do-yeon gained recognition through their participation in Produce 101 and subsequent debut in I.O.I, Lua continued perfecting her craft behind the scenes.
Debut as main dancer and rapper in 2017
After years of preparation, Lua's dreams materialized when Fantagio officially revealed her as the third member of Weki Meki on June 3, 2017. Subsequently, on July 6, 2017, the company announced the group's official name. Weki Meki officially debuted on August 8, 2017, with their first mini-album titled "WEME" featuring the lead single "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend".
Consequently, Lua secured her position as the group's main dancer, vocalist, and rapper. Her extensive dance training and remarkable flexibility made her a natural fit for the main dancer role. Her ability to perform splits with a chair between her legs and execute large, powerful movements with precise details became defining characteristics of her performance style.
Career Highlights and New Ventures
Throughout her career with Weki Meki, Lua participated in numerous activities that showcased her talents beyond dancing and rapping. Her journey with the group included several milestones before their official disbandment in 2024.
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Key moments with Weki Meki
In February 2018, Lua appeared in "Weki Meki, What's Up?" – a 60-episode reality show that ran until April 1, 2018. This series followed the eight members as they pursued their goal of becoming all-around idols, filming in Korea, Japan, and Thailand. The show gave fans unprecedented access to their daily lives, including their dorm and special guerrilla concerts. Furthermore, Weki Meki celebrated significant achievements, including the release of their first digital single "Butterfly" in support of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Acting debut in 'Almost, Maine'
In 2022, Lua expanded her artistic horizons by making her acting debut in the theater production "Almost, Maine". This play, known for its romantic storylines, has launched the careers of several actors who later formed relationships after working together. First of all, this venture demonstrated Lua's versatility as an artist, allowing her to explore character development beyond the constraints of idol performances.
TV appearances and variety shows
Lua established an impressive television presence throughout her career. She appeared on popular shows including "Weekly Idol" (episodes 377, 423, 539), "Knowing Bros" (episode 261), and "After School Club" (episodes 279, 305, 369, 410). In addition, she participated in "Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend" multiple times, showcasing her vocal abilities.
What are Weki Meki members doing now?
On August 16, 2024, Fantagio announced that Weki Meki had officially disbanded on August 8. Five members, including Lua, chose not to renew their contracts. After discussions, Ji Su-yeon also parted ways with Fantagio, while Choi Yoo-jung and Kim Do-yeon renewed their contracts. Prior to disbandment, the group released their final single "CoinciDestiny" in June 2024, described as their "final goodbye" to fans.
Exclusive Facts About Lua
Beyond her professional achievements, Lua possesses several unique characteristics that distinguish her from other wekimeki members. These exclusive facts reveal the distinctive personality behind the performer.
Her English name is Lexie
In 2021, Lua officially chose Lexie as her English name. This personal decision added another layer to her identity, giving international fans an alternative way to refer to her beyond her stage name and birth name, Kim Soo Kyung.
She sleeps with her eyes open
Perhaps one of Lua's most unusual traits is that she sleeps with her eyes open. This rare sleeping habit, while uncommon, is shared by some other Korean celebrities, including Miyawaki Sakura of IZ*ONE, who reportedly not only sleeps with eyes open but also talks in her sleep.
Loves Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5
Lua's musical influences extend beyond K-pop, as she harbors a deep admiration for Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5. Particularly, her favorite summer song is The Jackson 5's "Blame It on the Boogie". This appreciation for classic pop music sets her apart among wekimeki members, showcasing her diverse musical tastes.
Has a tattoo on her left bicep
Interestingly, Lua has a tattoo on her left bicep, though details about its design remain private. This personal expression adds to her unique image among wekimeki members, especially considering Korea's traditionally conservative stance toward visible tattoos.
Known for her flexibility and dancing
Above all, Lua's remarkable flexibility and dancing abilities are her recognized specialties. These skills, developed through her childhood training in ballet and gymnastics, established her reputation as the main dancer among wekimeki members.
Her representative emoji is the rainbow
Finally, Lua's representative emoji is the rainbow 🌈. This colorful symbol, often associated with diversity, inclusion, and celebration, perfectly captures her vibrant personality and performance style that stood out throughout her time with Weki Meki.
FAQS
Fans often seek answers to questions about their favorite wekimeki members. Here's what you might want to know about Lua:
Q: How does Lua interact with international fans? A: When meeting international fans, Lua makes remarkable efforts to communicate despite language barriers. At overseas events, she has been observed using a combination of broken English and creative sign language to understand fans. Indeed, at one American event, she spent nearly a minute trying to comprehend what "Whataburger" was during a discussion about American food.
Q: Does Lua enjoy traveling abroad? A: First and foremost, Lua has shown a playful attitude toward international travel. When asked about countries she would like to visit, she once jokingly suggested that instead of weki meki members traveling abroad, fans should come to Korea, reflecting her humorous personality.
Q: What does Lua enjoy doing during her free time? A: During the pandemic, Lua embraced a homebody lifestyle at the dorm, primarily searching for and listening to music or looking for nice restaurants that deliver. This glimpse into her daily life shows a relatable side to her personality outside of performances.
Q: Who would Lua like to collaborate with musically? A: Lua has expressed interest in collaborating with Chungha. In fact, she mentioned that she watches all of Chungha's performances and music videos whenever she makes a comeback, admiring her confidence and stage attitude.
Q: What's Lua's favorite B-side track from Weki Meki? A: Lua has shared that "Iron Boy," a B-side track from their second mini-album, is among her favorites. She described it as "retro, yet sophisticated" and noted that the choreography matches the song perfectly, allowing her to immerse herself completely while performing it.
Q: What makes Lua unique among weki meki members? A: Alongside her distinctive sleeping habit and dance abilities covered previously, Lua is known to get shy when meeting new people, creating an interesting contrast with her confident stage presence.
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