Origin and release year: South Korea (2024 – PROJECT 7)
MC: Lee Soo Hyuk
Panelists: Ryan Jhun, Lee Hae In, Ha Sung Woon, Bada Lee, RYUD
Guests/Special Directors: (G)I-DLE MiYeon, MAMAMOO Moon Byul, AB6IX Lee Dae Hwi, INFINITE Nam Woo Hyun, PENTAGON Hui, N.Flying Yoo Hwe Seung, Shin Youme
Warning! This article might contain spoilers!
Premiering on October 18th, 2024, PROJECT 7 is a high-stakes competition that invites 200 diverse contestants from around the globe to showcase their talent in hopes of forming a new K-pop boy group to be managed by a brand-new label created in partnership with SLL JoongAng, Studio Slam and YG Plus.
Other PROJECT 7 articles to check out: 13 Of The Most Anticipated “PROJECT 7” Survival Show Participants And Where You’ve Seen Them Before | PROJECT 7 Episode 1 And 2 Recap | PROJECT 7 Episode 3 And 4 Recap | PROJECT 7 Episode 5 And 6 Recap | PROJECT 7 Episode 7 And 8 Recap
UPDATE; Here are the final 7 members of the “PROJECT 7” debut group called CLOSE YOUR EYES!
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Just when it seemed PROJECT 7 had no surprises left, episodes 9 and 10 took things to a whole new level. From fun original songs produced by industry legends to live audience voting that shook up the rankings, these episodes had it all— talent, tension, and a fair share of drama. But as we head toward the next elimination, the question lingers: Who will make it through? Let’s dive into the highs, lows, and standout moments of these two most recent episodes of the competition.
“PROJECT 7” Episode 9 Recap
Original Match Mission
In the ninth episode of PROJECT 7, the highly anticipated “Original Match” mission was introduced. In this mission, the trainees will perform all-new original songs produced specifically for the competition. In preparation for the mission, five teams were formed through global voting, each with its own unique concept and lineup of talented members.
For example, the first team, “Breaking News,” took on a bold neo/urban concept with the members Kang Min Seo, Kang Hyun Woo, Kwon Yong Hyun, Abe Yura, Asaka Korato, Ahn Jun Won, and Yoo Ji An. The team worked together to create a stage for the original song produced by the iconic producers Ryan S. Jhun and Dwayne “Dem Jointz” Abernathy. With Ryan S. Jhun’s extensive K-pop production background and Dem Jointz’s global influence, including working with artists like Kanye West, Rihanna, and K-pop giants like NCT and EXO (among many others), this song was one of the titles that caught my eye going into the mission.
The second team, “Time After Time,” focuses on a nostalgic/sentimental concept as the team includes contestants Bing Hua, Shin Jae Won, Oh Tae Hwan, Wu Chen Yu, Woo Ha Jun, Yoo Young Seo, and Lee Han Bin. Their track was produced by FRANTS, a versatile producer known for his work with JYP artists like DAY6 and the Wonder Girls and HYBE Label groups like ENHYPEN and TXT.
Meanwhile, team “KOOL-AID” is assigned the old-school/retro theme as the members Kim Si Hun, Kim Jeong Min, Kim Joo Hyeon, Kim Jun Woo, Lee Geon Woo, Chae Hee Ju, and Fong Atilla come together to perform their song, produced by Benjamin 55 and Young Chance, both celebrated for their contributions to K-pop hits by groups like NCT DREAM, TWICE and Stray Kids.
Rounding out the competition, team “Merry-Go-Round” brings a fresh/cool concept. Their team features some of the show’s most promising trainees, like Kim Sung Min, Nam Ji Woon, Sakurada Kenshin, Seo Kyung Bae, Song Seung Ho, Andy, and Jeong Se Yoon. Together the contestants worked on a song produced by Cho Won Sang from the band LUCY and DINT of HIGHBRID.
Finally, team “Trigger” was given the sexy/bad concept with members Kim Hyun Woo, Lynn Lynn, Ma Jing Xiang, Park Jun Seo (of BAE173), Yi Chen, Jang Yeo Jun, and Jeon Min Wook (BAE173’s J-Min). Their song comes from Park Seul Gi and Roydo, producers under the 153/Joombas Music Group.
Aside from the intense preparations, the trainees also enjoyed a fun “Sports Day,” a survival show staple. The Sports Day was hosted by idol Son Dong Pyo (former MIRAE and X1 who knows all about survival programs, having competed and made it into the final lineup in the show Produce X 101). The Sports Day’s winning team earned the benefit of filming a self-PR video and a special new song challenge video alongside Son Dong Pyo—a vital promotion for a trainee!
“PROJECT 7” Episode 10 Recap
Stages and Votes
In episode 10 of PROJECT 7, the trainees finally performed their original songs as teams on a live stage in front of an audience. This evaluation was especially important as the audience votes determined both the on-set winners and additional benefit points for the contestants.
On stage, the “Merry-Go-Round” team stole the spotlight, earning an impressive 227 points, with Seong Seung Ho, Nam Ji Woon, and Sakurada Kenshin in the top three spots.
“Trigger” also delivered a powerful performance, earning 187 points and crowning Ma Jing Xiang as the team’s standout, followed by Jang Yeo Jun and Jeon Min Wook.
Meanwhile, “Breaking News” earned 83 points, with Ahn Jun Won taking first place. “Time After Time” scored 79 points, with Woo Ha Jun topping the ranking, and “KOOLAID” rounded out the competition with 53 points, where Kim Jung Min got first which will narrow the group down to just 21 trainees ahead of the finale.
Heading into the critical elimination round, frontrunners like Jeon Min Wook, Sakurada Kenshin, and Seo Kyung Bae are guaranteed a spot, thanks to their strong performances and consistent benefit points.
Other safe trainees include rising stars like Kim Si Hun, Ahn Jun Won, Nam Ji Woon, Jang Yeo Jun, and Song Seung Ho, who continue to gain momentum, while steady performers like Ma Jing Xiang, Yi Chen, and Kim Hyun Woo remain supported by their strong fanbases.
Mid-tier contestants such as Fong Atilla, Andy, and Jeong Se Yoon also show promise, although they hover dangerously close to the survival cutoffs. On the other hand, several trainees face elimination due to low rankings and minimal screen time.
Contestants like Kotaro Asaka, Yoo Ji An, Kim Joo Hyun, and Chae Hee Ju are particularly vulnerable. We guess we’ll have to wait until the next episode to find out what’ll happen!
“PROJECT 7” Episode 9 & 10 Review
Episodes 9 and 10 of PROJECT 7 brought an exciting mix of great performances and fierce competition. Always our personal favorite mission, PROJECT 7’s “Original Match” mission really shined thanks to top-notch producers like Ryan S. Jhun, Dem Jointz, and FRANTS, who turned the tracks into songs that fans can actually enjoy beyond the show—something that made this challenge feel more special than just another survival mission.
That said, the glaring issue of uneven screen time is hard to ignore. As many fans have complained, it’s frustrating to see talented trainees sidelined while visually popular or top-ranked contestants get the biggest share of attention. Especially as the next elimination will cut the group down to just 21 trainees! Outside of this, episodes 9 and 10 were really fun, and it’s clear that the competition is really heating up now, especially among the mid-tier trainees who are fighting for their chance of staying in the competition.
With standout performances and top-tier songs, the show delivered both excitement and drama. Will the most deserving trainees make it through? Who are your favorite trainees so far? Let us know in the comments!