From Daniel to Kyuded: The Unfiltered Transformation of an I-LAND Trainee
Daniel from I-LAND, once the bright and youthful trainee that captured the hearts of viewers, is almost unrecognizable today. After failing to secure a spot in the final lineup of ENHYPEN, Daniel stepped away from the spotlight. Years later, he returned, not as the same cheerful boy fans remembered, but as someone completely transformed — now going by the name Kyuded.
When Daniel reappeared on social media as Kyuded, fans were quick to notice how much his appearance had changed. The clean and polished look he had during I-LAND was gone. In its place stood someone who looked thinner, more rugged, and visibly tired. His sharp features, often accompanied by a worn-out gaze, made fans question what he had gone through in the years of his absence.
What shocked people even more was his raw, unfiltered presence online. There was no effort to maintain the idol image anymore — no stylist, no makeup, no curated persona. Kyuded appeared rough around the edges, wearing simple clothes and showing a side that was far from the K-pop standards he was once trained under. He even went as far as publicly expressing his frustration towards his past in the industry, famously posting "fuucckkk iland" on social media. It was a clear signal that he had emotionally distanced himself from his trainee days and the idol system that shaped, and perhaps wounded, him.
His rebranding as Kyuded wasn’t just a change of name. It represented a breakaway from the rigid expectations of the K-pop world. No longer under the supervision of an agency, Daniel as Kyuded embraced a path of independence, producing and sharing his own music without the polish of a professional production team. He was no longer the boy trained to fit into a mold — he was an artist trying to figure things out on his own terms.
Fans have responded with mixed emotions. Some expressed concern, seeing his altered appearance and raw demeanor as signs of deeper struggles. Others, however, praised his honesty and authenticity, recognizing that not all stories after survival shows end in glamour and success. For them, Kyuded’s transformation is a reflection of reality — the less talked about side of the K-pop industry where not everyone gets a happy ending.
Despite the worries, there’s hope that through his music and personal expression, Kyuded finds healing and a new sense of purpose. His journey may no longer align with the K-pop dream, but it’s a path that is unmistakably his own.
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