Annie (real name Mun Seo-yoon), the eldest daughter of Shinsegae Chairwoman Jeong Yu-kyung, said that her family was strongly opposed to her dream of becoming a singer.
Annie said in a documentary video posted on the official All Day Project social media account on the 13th, "One day, I casually asked my mom, 'What do you think about me becoming a singer?' and she laughed and said, 'That’s impossible,' so I thought, 'I guess that’s not going to happen.'"
She continued, "But two or three years later, when I seriously told her, 'Mom, I really want to become a singer,' she said, 'Is that even possible? Absolutely NO,'" recalling, "That was the first 'heartbreak' of my life."
Annie is the eldest daughter of Shinsegae Chairwoman Jeong Yu-kyung, the granddaughter of Chairman Lee Myung-hee, and the niece of Chairman Chung Yong-jin. Annie said in the video, "When I was 7 years old, I happened to see music videos of 2NE1 and BIGBANG, and it was so shocking that it made me want to become a singer."
Annie also stated, "In the second and third years of high school, my family’s opposition was the greatest, but I said I wouldn’t give up, so my mom offered to help persuade the family if I got into college," adding, "I completely gave up sleep and worked hard on my entrance exam preparation."
Annie is known to have graduated from Columbia University in New York, United States. Annie's grandfather, Honorary Chairman Jeong Jae-eun of Shinsegae, also graduated from Columbia’s Department of Electrical Engineering and the Graduate School's Industrial Engineering program. Columbia University operates a 'legacy admissions' system that grants preferences to applicants whose relatives are alumni.
In conclusion, she said, "People think I’m not serious about this path and have many doubts, but I have to show more to prove how desperate I am for this dream," adding, "Now is the time to show it."
All Day Project is the second group presented by The Black Label, led by former YG Entertainment producer Teddy, after 'Miyao.' This marks the birth of the first 'chaebol idol' in K-pop, with All Day Project debuting with their first single 'FAMOUS' on the 23rd.
Meanwhile, All Day Project has selected members including Annie, Woo-chan (Jo Woo-chan), who participated as the youngest contestant in the hip-hop competition program 'Show Me the Money,' Young-seo, who withdrew just before the debut of girl group ILLIT, Tarzan (Lee Chae-won), who had worked as a model, and choreographer Bailey (Bailey Seok).