Mix Nine () was a South Korean reality competition show broadcast on JTBC. In the show, YG Entertainment founder and producer Yang Hyun-suk traveled to music agencies across Korea to find up-and-coming K-pop stars. Throughout the episodes, contestants were progressively eliminated, culminating in a competition between a team of the final nine boys and one of the final nine girls. The winning team was to debut as idols, but their debut was ultimately cancelled following contract disputes between YG Entertainment and the contestants' respective agencies.
The season finale was broadcast live on January 26, 2018 at 11pm.
Concept Mix Nine was a collaboration project between director Han Dong-chul, producer Yang Hyun-suk, and JTBC. Han Dong-chul, who was the executive producer of the first two seasons of Mnet's Produce 101 originally came with the concept for the show's third season. The show had 400 auditions from more than 70 agencies which Yang and the guest judges personally visited. Contestants included both trainees and lesser known K-pop idols looking to seek further attention. According to Yang, good looks and have pleasing personalities are some of his preference in choosing the trainees, although not a requirement. 170 trainees were chosen by Yang Hyun-suk and guest judges CL, Zion.T, Seungri, and Taeyang.
After the agency tour concluded, the trainees were divided into four classes (Debut team, A, B, and C) to train and compete in ranking missions that were judged by a combination of judge evaluations and viewer voting.
For the participants' training, several artists were recruited for the show. Vocal trainer and singer Ha Dong-kyun and singer Suran were in charge of the vocal training. In addition, rapper Swings was their rap mentor, while YG Entertainment dancers Kwon Young-deuk and Kwon Young-don were responsible for training. With nine members each, the remaining male team would go against the remaining female team. The final group would promote for seven months.
Pre-show and promotions On September 18, a 2-minute video teaser was uploaded via YG Entertainment's YouTube in which Yang briefly described the show concept. Through his Instagram account, Yang also constantly updated which companies he already visited and how many trainees had passed so far. At the same time, the show also released photos of trainees who had undergone the audition, which included members from KNK, 24K, ONF, Loona, A.C.E and JJCC.
On September 14, JTBC announced an upcoming press conference on the 19th. On that day, the show's producers Han Dong-chul and Yoo Sung Mo attended a press conference held at the JTBC building, and the confirmation of the show's premiere was announced to be on October 29. On September 25, Noh Hong-cheol was announced to be the host of the show. About a month after, JTBC released a representative image of the show on October 11 with the caption 'Save a Shining Boy and Girl' and the logo 9. On the same day, another video teaser, in which singer Zion.T was announced as one of the judges of the show, was released.
The day before the premiere of the show, the show's production presentation was held at a hotel near Hakdong Station. Yang Hyun-suk and Han Dong-cheol, together with Seungri and Zion.T attended the presentation. On the same day, the participants singing and dancing to its theme song was released. On November 19 two different versions of the song and music videos were released. Three different versions of the song were released overall: Boys' version led by Hyojin of ONF, girls' version led by Lee Sujin from Fave Entertainment (now in Weeekly) and a co-ed version performed by both teams. Produced by Teddy, "Just Dance" was reported to be his first song produced for a non-YG Entertainment artist.
Contestants
Male contestants Color key New Top 9
#Episode 4Episode 5Episode 7Episode 8Episode 10Episode 11Episode 13Episode 14NameVotesNameVotesNameVotes1Woo Jin-youngWoo Jin-young ()Woo Jin-young ()154,389Woo Jin-young ()Woo Jin-young ()86,026Woo Jin-young ()Kim Hyo-jin (1)103,822Woo Jin-young (1)2Kim Hyo-jinKim Hyo-jin ()Kim Hyo-jin ()112,984Kim Hyo-jin ()Kim Byeong-kwan (1)66,199Kim Hyo-jin (1)Woo Jin-young (1)94,495Kim Hyo-jin (1)3Lee Geon-minKim Byeong-kwan (3)Kim Byeong-kwan ()92,381Kim Byeong-kwan ()Kim Hyo-jin (1)63,086Kim Byeong-kwan (1)Kim Byeong-kwan ()rowspan=7 Lee Roo-bin (9)4Lee Seung-junLee Seung-jun ()Lee Seung-jun ()Kim Min-seok (1)Kim Min-seok ()45,956Lee Dong-hoon (1)Kim Min-seok (3)Kim Byeong-kwan (1)5Kim Min-seokLee Geon-min (2)Kim Min-seok (1)72,728Kim Hyeon-soo (18)Lee Dong-hun (1)43,949Song Han-kyeom (2)Choi Hyun-suk (1)Choi Hyun-suk ()6Kim Byeong-kwanKim Min-seok (1)Lee Geon-min (1)72,704Lee Dong-hun (9)Lee Seung-jun (1)43,778Choi Hyun-suk (3)Lee Dong-hoon (2)Song Han-kyeom (1)7Shim Jae-youngWoo Tae-woon (6)Woo Tae-woon ()63,907Lee Seung-jun (3)Song Han-kyeom (3)42,373Kim Min-seok (3)Song Han-kyeom (2)Kim Min-seok (3)8Park Min-gyunShim Jae-young (1)Choi Hyun-suk (7)57,777Lee Geon-min (2)Kim Hyeon-soo (3)39,934Yao Ming-ming (5)Lee Byeong-gon (5)Lee Dong-hoon (2)9Yuto MizuguchiPark Min-gyun (1)Song Han-kyeom (5)57,629Lee Roo-bin (7)Choi Hyun-suk (3)39,406Lee Roo-bin (3)Yao Ming-ming (1)Lee Byeong-gon (1)
Female contestants Color key New Top 9
#Episode 4Episode 5Episode 7Episode 8Episode 10Episode 11Episode 13Episode 14NameVotesNameVotesNameVotes1Shin Ryu-jinShin Ryu-jin ()Shin Ryu-jin ()141,230Shin Ryu-jin ()Shin Ryu-jin ()90,758Shin Ryu-jin ()Shin Ryu-jin ()rowspan=9 Shin Ryu-jin ()2Lee Soo-minLee Soo-min ()Lee Soo-min ()91,636Lee Soo-min ()Lee Soo-min ()Lee Soo-min ()Lee Soo-min ()Lee Soo-min ()3Kim So-riKim So-ri ()Kim So-ri ()67,896Jeon Hee-jin (2)Lee Soo-jin (3)44,807Jang Hyo-kyung (9)Kim Hyun-jin (9)Park Soo-min (6)4Kim Min-jiChoi Moon-hee (4)Choi Moon-hee ()61,931Kim So-ri (1)Choi Moon-hee (1)40,345Lee Soo-jin (1)Jang Hyo-kyung (1)Jeon Hee-jin (2)5Baek Hyeon-jooJeon Hee-jin (2)Jeon Hee-jin ()60,724Choi Moon-hee (1)Jeon Hee-jin (2)37,608Lee Ha-young (2)Jung Ha-yoon (9)Nam Yu-jin (2)6Kim Hyun-jinBaek Hyeon-joo (1)Baek Hyeon-joo ()58,573Lee Soo-jin (2)Kim So-ri (2)35,536Nam Yu-jin (4)Jeon Hee-jin (1)Choi Moon-hee (5)7Jeon Hee-jinKim Min-ji (3)Kim Hyun-jin (1)55,313Baek Hyeon-joo (1)Lee Ha-young (2)34,593Jeon Hee-jin (2)Nam Yu-jin (1)Kim So-ri (3)8Choi Moon-heeKim Hyun-jin (2)Lee Soo-jin (1)50,666Kim Hyun-jin (1)Kim Hyun-jin ()34,524Choi Moon-hee (4)Lee Ha-young (3)Jang Hyo-kyung (4)9Lee Hyang-sukLee Soo-jin (4)Lee Hyang-suk (1)38,005Lee Ha-young (16)Baek Hyeon-joo (2)33,869Park Soo-min (6)Park Soo-min ()Lee Ha-young (1)
Elimination chart The first elimination round starts at Episode 7; second round at Episode 10; third round at Episode 13; and the final elimination round at Episode 14, wherein the Debut Team was announced.
Color key Top 9 of the week Eliminated Left the show
Male participants Contestant Company RankingShowcaseEp.4Ep.5 Ep.7Ep.8Ep.10Ep.11Ep.13Ep.14 (final)Grade#########Woo Jin-young ()Happy Face EntertainmentB 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1Kim Hyo-jin ()WM Entertainment 9 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 1 2Lee Ru-bin ()Liveworks CompanyA14172416 9 12 9 12 3Kim Byeong-kwan ()Beat Interactive 9 6 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 4Choi Hyun-suk ()YG Entertainment 9171514 812 9 6 5 5Song Han-gyeom ()Staro Entertainment 9161415 910 7 5 7 6Kim Min-seok ()WM EntertainmentA 5 6 7 5 4 4 7 4 7Lee Dong-hun ()Beat Interactive 918162315 6 5 4 6 8Lee Byeong-gon ()YG EntertainmentA28274025232213 8 9Yao Ming-ming ()ByKing EntertainmentB121120131813 8 910Lee Seung-joon ()WM EntertainmentC 4 4 6 4 7 61110EliminatedKim Seh-yoon ()Beat InteractiveC2724302011101011EliminatedShim Jae-young ()WM EntertainmentB 7 8161016171513EliminatedKim Hyeon-soo ()Happy Face EntertainmentB19223423 5 81214EliminatedJin Seong-ho ()Liveworks CompanyC3234492921181415EliminatedLee Jae-jun ()Banana CultureC3049995328261716EliminatedKim Hyun-jong ()Hunus EntertainmentA4347864847271917EliminatedKim Kook-heon ()The Music Works 94238603636252118EliminatedLee Geon-min ()RBWB 3 5 8 6 8141619EliminatedWoo Tae-woon ()Million MarketB13 710 713112020EliminatedKim Dong-yoon ()WYNN EntertainmentB3131513024241821EliminatedPark Min-kyun ()WM EntertainmentA 8 9211415192422EliminatedYuto Mizuguchi ()WM EntertainmentA 910181114162323EliminatedOh Hee-jun ()YNB EntertainmentB2429543237232524EliminatedCho Yong-geun ()Happy Face EntertainmentC1013251719152225EliminatedJung In-seong ()YNB EntertainmentA2328432726202626EliminatedKim Young-jo ()RBWC2123412629212727EliminatedLee Chan-dong ()RBWA333358344128EliminatedLee Chang-yoon ()WM EntertainmentA111219121729EliminatedYoon Jae-hee ()Happy Face EntertainmentB202037242030EliminatedKim Sang-won ()Staro EntertainmentB252531213031EliminatedPark Seung-jun ()YNB EntertainmentC151828192232EliminatedJung Hyeon-woo ()FM EntertainmentA293059353133EliminatedChae Chang-hyeon ()Banana CultureA343662373534EliminatedKim Jun-kyu ()YG EntertainmentB373253313435EliminatedShin Jun-seop ()The Music WorksB262132222536EliminatedPark Hyeon-gyu ()RBWB383555333237EliminatedBaek Jin ()Start EntertainmentB524571403838EliminatedLee Ha-bit ()NH MediaA555276432739EliminatedIm Young-jun ()Eleven 9 EntertainmentB495180454540EliminatedKim Min-hak ()Hunus Entertainment 9363763384041EliminatedKim Hong-joong ()KQ Entertainment 9595987494442EliminatedChoi Jong-ho ()KQ EntertainmentA576191504643EliminatedMa Jae-kyeong ()Hunus EntertainmentB454692514344EliminatedPark Seong-hyeon ()Chrome EntertainmentC514877445045EliminatedLee Jae-joon ()RBWB351927183346Eliminated Kazuhiro Hiyama ()Major 9A474374415247EliminatedKim Jun-hoe ()Jungle EntertainmentC626698525148EliminatedHwang Yoon-seong ()Hunus EntertainmentB414284474849EliminatedMoon Jae-yoon ()Liveworks CompanyA403982463950EliminatedYoon Yong-bin ()Banana EntertainmentC222647284251EliminatedJo Young-ho ()Maroo Entertainment 9464475424952EliminatedKim Jin-hong ()Choeun EntertainmentB39417039LeftKim Sang-jin ()The Music WorksA545510054EliminatedKim Seung-min ()Mystic EntertainmentC615810155EliminatedKim Dong-hyeon ()NH MediaA485010256EliminatedShin Jung-min ()FM EntertainmentC505310357EliminatedKim Sang-yeon ()FM EntertainmentC444010458EliminatedLee Chang-seon ()Choeun EntertainmentA565610559EliminatedHan Jong-yeon ()Maroo EntertainmentA535410660EliminatedKim Jae-oh ()Chrome EntertainmentC686710861EliminatedMoon Young-seo ()Luce EntertainmentC666511162EliminatedSong Min-gi ()KQ EntertainmentA677211363EliminatedManny ()Jungle EntertainmentB655711564EliminatedKim Young-jin ()Jackie Chan Group KoreaC606011865EliminatedKim Seong-yeon ()IME KoreaC706411966EliminatedJo Han-guk ()NH MediaC646212067EliminatedSon Jun-hyeong ()Maroo EntertainmentA696812268EliminatedKim Han-kyeol ()IME KoreaB586312769EliminatedJung Seong-cheol ()Urbane MusicC716912870EliminatedJung Seung-bo ()Jungle EntertainmentC727013171EliminatedJung Woo-young ()KQ EntertainmentC637113272Eliminated
Female participants