An Yujin of IVE, the 'MZ Wannabe Icon', shared her thoughts on the conclusion of 'Bbang Bbang Earth Arcade 3'.
The tvN variety show 'Bbang Bbang Earth Arcade 3' (hereafter 'Earth Arcade 3'), which first aired on April 25, wrapped up its final episode on the 4th, concluding its grand journey. As the youngest member of 'Earth Arcade', An Yujin created legendary moments every season, and in this season, she showcased her blossoming variety skills, proving her presence as a 'confident variety idol'.
Throughout the broadcast, An Yujin captivated viewers with her 'variety sponge' qualities, quickly catching on to her surroundings and reinterpreting them in her own style to add humor. Notably, when Lee Eunji, while smelling flowers at a cafe in Abu Dhabi, said, "There's poison in this," An Yujin's exaggerated acting as if she were dying received explosive reactions on social media right after the broadcast, establishing it as a representative memorable scene of 'Earth Arcade 3'.
Additionally, a scene where she seamlessly followed Lee Eunji's impersonation of Yang Hee-eun, showcasing a high level of synchronization, also became a hot topic. PD Na Young-seok, who was watching, expressed his admiration, saying, "Wow, you're doing great now," while the other members showed satisfied smiles. An Yujin's quick absorption of her seniors' variety skills and her ability to reconstruct them in a way that suits her became a key driving force behind the laughter of 'Earth Arcade 3'.
Her sincere attitude, putting aside her idol persona and not sparing her body, also garnered positive responses from viewers. When her elementary school graduation photo was revealed, she seemed momentarily flustered but quickly turned the situation around by mimicking poses and her motto, and she impressed everyone by voluntarily wearing a rabbit swim cap that fit her face perfectly and suggesting to the production team to let her dive in. PD Na Young-seok even praised her through the YouTube channel 'Channel 15ya', saying, "Everything about Yujin in this shoot was great. How can you turn off your idol persona like that?"
Her performance as the 'An Yujin Genius', combining deductive reasoning and quick thinking, also left a deep impression on viewers. An Yujin utilized smartphone image searches to track clues and solve puzzles, playing a key role in the mission to capture Torongi and Cheol-yong. In particular, when she identified Torongi's smuggling location, she dramatically caught him, completing the mission and becoming the top contributor to the capture mission, providing a thrilling sense of accomplishment.
An Yujin's contributions continued in the final episode. After finishing the overseas filming for 'Earth Arcade 3', she reunited with the cast in Seoul, appearing in a fully styled 'idol mode' that immediately drew attention. An Yujin stated, "After monitoring hard, I thought I should capture my quiet and pretty side at least once at this point," and she tried to maintain the concept with a haughty tone, while in the subsequent souvenir curling competition, she infused the scene with her cheerful energy, shining until the very end.
Through her agency Starship Entertainment, An Yujin expressed, "This season was truly enjoyable day by day, and I think I created precious memories that I will never forget while laughing and chatting with my sisters every moment. I hope the viewers felt the joy we experienced as well." She added, "Above all, I sincerely thank my sisters who were with me, the 'Earth Arcade' production team who always worked hard for us, and the fans who supported us unchangingly. I think I will soon return to my main job and greet you again as IVE's An Yujin. I am preparing hard, so please look forward to it."
Thus, An Yujin, who was noted as a 'variety gem' in 'Bbang Bbang Earth Arcade 1', has firmly established herself as a 'trustworthy MZ variety idol' with her fully matured variety skills and sincere attitude in season 3. With her innate variety sense, quick thinking, and passion for laughter, all eyes are on An Yujin's next steps.
Meanwhile, IVE, to which An Yujin belongs, will perform at the massive global music festival 'Lollapalooza Berlin' in Berlin, Germany, on the 12th (local time).
[Geum Bitna, MK Sports Reporter]
