Jennie of BLACKPINK Surprises Elementary School Students on ‘Manito Club’
A team of celebrities, including Blackpink’s Jennie, recently collaborated on a surprise event for all 106 students at an elementary school. The initiative stemmed from the MBC entertainment program ‘Maniitto Club,’ following a shift from individual challenges to a collective mission.
A Collaborative Effort
After initial individual assignments proved less impactful than hoped, the program’s producers proposed a team-based challenge. Jennie, alongside Chu Sung-hoon, Noh Hong-chul, Lee Su-ji, and Dex, were tasked with creating a memorable day for the entire student body.
Dividing Responsibilities
The team quickly organised, assigning roles based on individual strengths and the needs of each grade level. Jennie focused on decorating the fifth-grade classroom with encouraging messages and lucky charms. Dex took on the role of ‘Urang Kkashi’ (a traditional Korean folktale character) for the third graders. Lee Su-ji worked to secure a message of support from national badminton champion An Se-young for the fourth-grade students, while Chu Sung-hoon assisted with physical education and a student-run YouTube channel for the second graders. Noh Hong-chul designed a special play area, dubbed ‘Hong-chul’s Garden,’ for the first graders.
Securing An Se-young’s Support
Obtaining a message from An Se-young proved challenging initially, with attempts via social media yielding no response. Jennie stepped in, leveraging her contacts to reach the athlete’s manager. Despite An Se-young being in transit for a competition, the manager agreed to relay the request, resulting in a positive outcome.
Event Execution and Impact
On the day of the event, the team transformed the school hallway into a vending machine-style gift distribution point. Despite an unexpectedly large turnout, they successfully delivered gifts to the students. Noh Hong-chul’s ‘Hong-chul’s Garden’ was met with laughter and enthusiasm. Following the team’s departure, a video message from Jennie was shown to the fifth-grade class, and An Se-young’s message was broadcast during lunchtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the shift to a team-based mission?
The original individual missions were described as “less impactful” by the program’s producers, leading to the decision to implement a more collaborative challenge.
What roles did each team member take on?
Jennie decorated the fifth-grade classroom, Dex played ‘Urang Kkashi’ for third graders, Lee Su-ji secured a message from An Se-young for fourth graders, Chu Sung-hoon assisted with second-grade activities, and Noh Hong-chul created ‘Hong-chul’s Garden’ for first graders.
How was An Se-young’s participation secured?
Initial attempts by Lee Su-ji via social media were unsuccessful. Jennie then used her contacts to reach An Se-young’s manager, who agreed to pass on the request despite the athlete being in transit for a competition.
Could similar collaborative events between celebrities and schools become a recurring theme in entertainment programming, potentially expanding to other communities and age groups?