The foreign trainees had it the hardest before I-land. Ni-ki back then used to spend more time in the practice room than at the homestay because the homestay had no AC.
Because his family didn’t come from a privileged background, his mom even entered an online raffle to try to get him an air con, desk, and fridge. To make she didn’t worry too much, he would regularly send photos of himself to his mom. 🥹
When I think about how a little 13 yr old Riki endured all this and even gave dance lessons right up until the last day in japan to help with transportation expenses, I really can’t help but admire Ni-ki.
He didn’t grow up with a silver spoon, but through his own hard work, he became famous, earned millions, and raised the profile of the family dance studio so his whole family’s lives have also changed since 2020.
I’m so proud of Ni-ki 🥹😭
니키가 얼마나 무대에 진심인 남자냐면..
이 무대 이틀 전에 독감 걸렷고, 전날 열 40도로 쓰러져서 응급실까지 갔는데 다음날 바로 그냥 이 퍼포
개지리고 개빡센 무대를 한거임. 저 때 회사도 말렸었는데 어떻게든 하고싶엇고 안 하면 너무 후회할 것
같아서 그냥 했대.. 참고로 이때 니키 만 17세였다ㅆ (울컥)
on the anniversary of the I-LAND finale, i’m reminded of the video of ni-ki’s family’s reaction when he was announced as part of the ENHYPEN lineup... ni-ki was his parents' fourteen-year-old baby as well as both a younger and older brother facing so much on his own, isolated in a survival how in a country where he was barely learning the language. i imagine the whirlwind of emotions and think about ni-ki’s bravery in stepping forward to chase his dreams, even when it was terrifying, as well as his family’s immense support in letting him pursue them, despite everything they must have felt seeing him alone and vulnerable
the fact that ni-ki is part of enhypen today is due to his courage, but also to the love of his family, who always allowed him to grow while knowing that his dreams could always become reality🥹❤️🩹
CHECK THE FACTS, OR ARE YOU JUST SPREADING MALICE? IF “JUSTICE” & “ACCOUNTABILITY” MATTER, HOLD THOSE WHO DISTORTED INFO, SPREAD HATE & CYBERBULLIED MINA ACCOUNTABLE—NOT SOMEONE WHO DID NONE OF IT. YOUR ACTIONS NOW ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THOSE WHO CYBERBULLIED MINA DID THEN.
He never told anyone to “fuck off” or stay home. He simply hoped fans would come to the concert to enjoy the show and have a great time, rather than get too caught up in being noticed. He praised both NA & SA atmospheres, and Mina attended NA.