Choreographer Bae Yoon-jung delivered a sharp, no-nonsense breakdown of the auditionees’ skills and offered brutally honest feedback.
On the YouTube channel 232 Project, singer-producer Lee Sang-min and Bae Yoon-jung reviewed audition stages and evaluations. The video featured first-round pass Yoon Soo-min and conditional pass Lee Eun-ji, who showcased their dancing and singing.
Yoon Soo-min first grabbed attention with a powerful performance and rap. However, Bae Yoon-jung noted, "You’ve got great power and you’re good, but there’s a slightly overwhelming vibe," adding, "It seems you haven’t figured out which facial expressions make you look most attractive yet." She continued, "Keep monitoring your expressions to lock them in, and you need more ease. With practice, it’ll come out naturally." Yoon Soo-min admitted, "I know there are parts that feel unnatural and forced," revealing her concerns.
Lee Eun-ji showed strength in vocals. Bae Yoon-jung praised, "Your voice is refreshing and confident." But she pointed out shortcomings in dance. While Lee Sang-min expressed regret, saying, "You dance a lot less well than expected," Bae Yoon-jung emphasized growth potential: "You just haven’t learned professionally yet, but you’ve basically got a style with potential."
In particular, Bae Yoon-jung stressed, "I can tell at a glance," and, "Given time and proper training, she’s someone you can absolutely shape," drawing attention.
After the audition, Bae Yoon-jung also advised Lee Sang-min on the project’s direction. "Both contestants have their charms, but you need to nail the concept," she analyzed, adding, "A direction different from existing groups would suit them better." She further suggested, "It might actually be easier to develop a blank-slate trainee," noting, "If someone already has a strong personal style, changing it isn’t easy."
Meanwhile, 232 Project is an idol production venture run through a newly established agency by Lee Sang-min. As Lee returns to album production for the first time in about 25 years, public interest is steadily rising.