Hidden Gems: Lesser-Known Variety Moments From Dreamcatcher's Handong
Dreamcatcher's Handong has grown a ton as an idol over the past eight years, but she's always had fun variety moments to call her own.
It's been a bit, but this week I'm returning to the latest Hidden Gems series by highlighting some moments in variety that you might not know about from Dreamcatcher's Chinese-born Handong. Though seemingly shy and reserved prior to her stint on 2020's "Youth With You", Handong has nevertheless helped Dreamcatcher create some memorable moments for herself and the group on the various shows and places they've appeared over the years. Let's take a look!
- Name - Heyo TV - The Tiny Showcase - Dreamcatcher Handong's "Wee Woo" Dance cover (orig. by PRISTIN)
- Date - August 29th, 2017
The early days of Dreamcatcher saw each member of the group doing their best to introduce (or in some cases re-introduce) themselves to fans. For Handong, who had to contend with this plus continuing to improve her Korean in such a public-facing occupation, this was extra challenging, but she always did her best to take the opportunities she could.
Encouraged by her fellow Dreamcatcher members, Heyo TV's "Tiny Showcase" was a great way to show off her dance skills, and covering fellow rookie group PRISTIN's "Wee Woo" was just the way to do that. Moments like these showed the reason why despite a training period of only a few months, Dreamcatcher Company (then Happyface Entertainment) scouted and recruited her into MINX's re-debut as Dreamcatcher.
- Name - YSSCOM - 59" Manual - Dreamcatcher Handong
- Date - May 31, 2018
There's a few bits of Dreamcatcher content that focused specifically on each member in turn, and YSSCOM did one of these with a set of relays meant to have each member get things said about them. These were good, despite being a bit short, because you also got to learn a little bit about individual Dreamcatcher members.
For Handong, you got to learn about who her roommate was, what type of lipstick she preferred, and a number of nice compliments paid to her visual. But you also got to see just a small bit of the "Handong savage honesty" that she's been known for over the years when she called out why someone said they should clean up afterwards, too.
- Name - SBS MOMOPLAY Episode 15 feat. Dreamcatcher
- Date - February 18th, 2019
Though most of Dreamcatcher's variety appearances have been with all seven members of the group, a few were in subunits instead, and 2019's SBS MOMOPLAY episode was one of these. Handong accompanied JiU, SuA, and Yoohyeon to one of these to talk about the group's unique nightmarish, horror concept as well as their favorite songs and more.
Notable in Handong's answers to questions were the fact that she recommended one of Dreamcatcher's best known B-sides over a title track ("July 7th") and also that she had a desire to translate Dreamcatcher songs (and songs in general) into Chinese versions. This would turn out to be a bit prophetic for Handong - she actually did end up translating and singing her song recommendation "Snow Flower" by Park Hyo Shin at her 2019 birthday fanmeeting. And she did, years later, end up doing a Chinese medley of well-known Dreamcatcher songs as well as releasing two of her own in "First Light Of Dawn" and "That Day".
- Name - BIGEYE FASHION FORWARD feat. Dreamcatcher Handong
- Date - October 30th, 2020
When Handong temporarily left Dreamcatcher and went back to China to participate in "Youth With You" season 2, a number of appearances brokered by her then-agency Catfish Entertainment made their way onto Weibo and other Chinese platforms. Aside from "Youth With You", Handong also had a few dancing and singing covers and even an entire mini-series with her fellow Catfish Entertainment artists.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic ended up extending Handong's stay longer than intended, Handong made the best of things, and having a fashion-based interview was one of these. From tips on hair to recommended items to talking about her stint as an actress in another group's music video, this was a nice preview to seeing how much more confident Handong got during her time away.
- Name - M Countdown "Odd Eye" Thumbnail Scramble feat. Dreamcatcher
- Date - July 29th, 2021
There's a few well-known Handong variety moments after her return to the group - like winning the whole shebang in TongTong Culture's "Insider King" or showing off her strength in Dreamcatcher Mind's Retro Game episode, but quite a few small, yet fun moments with the group in other places as well.
One of these is in Dreamcatcher's "Odd Eye" Thumbnail Scramble, where three years before Squid Game Season 2 would bring awareness to it to global fans, Dreamcatcher was playing Gonggi against each other for the right to appear on the preview thumbnail for their stage. Of course, the group had to make it tougher on themselves by playing with a hand over one eye, and Handong would end up going last. Would Handong end up surviving in Squid Game if she had to play? You'll have to watch to find out.
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