Girl group fromis_9 has sparked widespread discussion after sharing an unexpected behind-the-scenes story about their time under Pledis Entertainment, revealing that they were reportedly instructed to avoid contact with senior group SEVENTEEN.
The revelations were made during an appearance on SEVENTEEN Seungkwan’s YouTube show, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, where members Jiwon and Chaeyoung candidly discussed their past experiences at the agency.
During the episode, Seungkwan warmly welcomed the two idols and jokingly remarked that they had left the company without saying goodbye. The conversation quickly turned more serious as the fromis\ 9 members described their time at Pledis.
Jiwon revealed that their interactions with SEVENTEEN were extremely restricted. “We couldn’t even step on their shadows.” Chaeyoung added that staff would often instruct them to leave immediately if SEVENTEEN members were nearby. “We were told to take off even our shoes and leave. Maybe in case our feet smelled?” She explained that the system made it feel as if they were not supposed to be seen at all when senior artists were around.
Seungkwan appeared surprised by the revelations and expressed sympathy for his junior artists. He also noted that during SEVENTEEN’s time practicing in the basement of the old Pledis building, they rarely encountered anyone from other teams. Chaeyoung agreed, saying: “It was a system where we could never be seen.”
The fromis_9 members also recalled how staff would actively warn them when SEVENTEEN was approaching practice areas, leading to constant tension about accidental encounters. Chaeyoung admitted: “We were really worried about stepping on your shadows.”
Seungkwan also shared a separate memory of accidentally walking into a fromis_9 member who was singing in the practice room, causing her to immediately leave in panic. He described the moment as if she looked like she “didn’t belong there,” to which Chaeyoung later admitted it was likely her.
Following the broadcast, the story quickly spread across social media and online communities, where many netizens criticized Pledis Entertainment for its reported internal separation between senior and junior artists. Some users questioned why such strict measures were necessary and whether the environment was appropriate for rookie idols trying to grow within the same company.
The discussion has reignited broader debates about idol agency culture and how companies manage interactions between senior and junior groups under the same label.
Sources: Koreaboo