Teenager Chou Tzu-yu (周子瑜) on Tuesday was chosen for new girl group Twice, becoming the first ever Taiwan-born and raised member of a South Korean girl group.
Sixteen-year-old Chou, who goes by the stage name Tzuyu, competed since May on South Korean TV talent show Sixteen, which saw 16 girls from different countries vying to become a member of the new group.
Initially intended to form a group of seven girls, nine members were eventually chosen: five from South Korea, three from Japan and one from Taiwan.
South Korean company JYP Entertainment is to launch the group and release an album by the end of this year.
JYP also manages the popular girl groups Wonder Girls and Miss A.
Born in Tainan, Tzuyu was approached by a scout from JYP during her second year in junior-high school. She dropped out of school and moved to South Korea to be trained by the company.
She has been praised for her dance skills on the show.
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