Chase Infiniti might be booked and busy promoting Hulu's new series The Testaments, but she's also clued into what's happening in the world of K-pop.
Recently, Chase Infiniti sat down with Teen Vogue's senior editor, P. Claire Dodson, alongside costar Lucy Halliday to discuss the key elements of The Handmaid's Tale sequel series, and, as a noted K-pop fan, she also took the chance to briefly weigh in on the multiple idol departures announced since March, most notably involving Heeseung, formerly of ENHYPEN, and Mark Lee, formerly of NCT.
“I'm still trying to get over Heeseung,” Infiniti tells Teen Vogue when asked if Mark's departure from NCT affected her as a fan. Heeseung left ENHYPEN in March to pursue solo opportunities while staying under BELIFT LAB. The surprising news was then followed by Mark's departure from NCT after 10 years in the SM Entertainment group. On April 10, the company announced that Mark Lee had decided to end his contract with SM Entertainment.
“I am still trying to process the fact that Heeseung left ENHYPEN. And then the next thing you know, I said, ‘Mark Lee is leaving SM?!’” Infiniti admits during the interview, with a shocked tone. “Bro. I'm shook to my core. Like Neo got my back, I am an NCTzen down. And so I was like, ‘Dang.’”
Infiniti also shares that she had a hard time explaining to her non-K-pop-obsessed friends about how devastated she was by Heeseung's news. “I was like, 'I just don't know how to even do this,'” she said. “It's as if Harry Styles left One Direction,” she then says, trying to relay the gravity to Halliday, who isn't super familiar with K-pop. “Okay, well, that's not triggering enough [now].” Halliday adds, “That is a bit triggering." (Since his departure from the group was announced, Heeseung has since revealed he will start his solo era soon under a new moniker: Evan.)
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Despite the shock of Heeseung's and Mark's departures from their beloved groups, K-pop remains a beacon of joy for Infiniti. “I'm still in the K-pop dance group and trust [that] when I go home, there will be a cover being filmed,” she says.
She also adds that whenever she had free time while filming The Testaments in Toronto, she would attend K-pop dance classes. In fact, K-pop dance covers might become a thing for the show's cast soon. “I really want to do a dance with you,” Halliday tells Infiniti during their interview, which immediately triggered an idea. “I should have us all do a K-pop cover!” Infiniti proclaimed. "I'll have to [get you to] go to [a K-pop class] and then record it after and be like ‘Testaments K-pop class!'"
And, with that, we shall stay tuned for season two!
