Being a K-pop idol is not a piece of cake. Not everyone can stand the long training schedules, tough choreography, dedication, and the most important of all— limitless patience. Usually, idols have to train for a while before they can get ready to debut in the K-pop music world. During this time, they sharpen their skills as an artist and educate themselves to handle the fame and the spotlight. However, the training period varies from person to person. While Super Junior’s RyeoWook and BTS’ Jimin trained for only two and six months respectively before making their debut, some of them have given more than half a decade of their lives paving a career in K-pop industry for themselves. Here are our top nine K-pop idols who have trained the longest in the K-pop industry!
Had it not been for their determination and hard, backbreaking work, they wouldn’t have fulfilled their dreams. So let’s celebrate their success!
9. BLACKPINK’s Jennie (6 years)
Jennie, among all the other girls of the K-pop band BLACKPINK, had the longest trainee period. She started her career as a YG Entertainment trainee in 2010 and trained for about six years. During this time, she managed to receive a lot of spotlight as one of the strongest, most skilled, and competitive trainees of the agency. Three complete years before making her debut as a member of BLACKPINK in 2016, Jennie had appeared in one of G-Dragon’s singles, ‘That XX’. You might have noticed a girl wearing a leather jacket talking on the phone. She was none other than Jennie!
Moreover, she is the first BLACKPINK member to get her solo debut in 2019 with the single, ‘Solo’. She has bagged in tons of endorsements owing to her unparalleled visuals, fashion sense, and international influence.
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8. EXO’s Suho (6 years)
Suho entered into SM Entertainment as a trainee back in 2005 through SM’s Casting System during the time of Super Junior’s debut. However, other trainees who trained with him, including Taemin and Jonghyun, debuted first as the members of group SHINee. Well, Suho’s long wait of six years was definitely worthwhile as he ended up being the leader of one of the biggest points of pride of South Korea, EXO!
He was introduced as the tenth member of the band, and they officially debuted in 2012 with the extended play ‘Mama’ and later became a part of its sub-unit Exo-K. In 2020, he made his solo debut with the release of the EP, ‘Self-Portrait’. Suho has also garnered a lot of fame in the entertainment industry with K-dramas and movies like ‘One Way Trip,’ ‘The Universe’s Star,’ ‘Rich Man,’ and ‘EXO Next’.
7. Red Velvet’s Seulgi (7 years)
Being a trainee under the same agency for seven long years isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Seulgi from Red Velvet proved what dedication is! She joined SM Entertainment in 2007 during her early middle school days and spent seven years in training. She was good enough to be revealed as one of the three best trainees of SM to the public through their pre-debut project, ‘SM Rookies’ with Jeno and Taeyong, two of the NCT members. The now-28-year-old singer and dancer became a member of the girl group Red Velvet in 2014 and has released three full-length studio albums along with 12 extended plays to date. She is also known as an all-rounder artist owing to her performances and artwork passion for her craft and style.
6. MONSTA X’s Shownu (7 years)
One of the most successful boy groups of South Korea, MONSTA X, debuted in 2015 under Starship Entertainment led by Shownu, who is also the main dancer of the band. However, not everyone knows that he used to be a JYP Entertainment trainee before and had trained there for about two years. He got the first place in the auditions in 2009 and joined the label for it is also the company under which his idol Rain works.
However, due to conflicts with the company along with a feeling of stagnation, Shownu decided to part ways from it and looked for a new direction. He eventually overcame all the obstacles with his determination and talent and won the K-pop survival show, ‘No.mercy,’ to enter the industry officially with six other teammates.
5. (G) I-DLE’s Miyeon (8 years)
Another talented K-pop idol who was able to walk on the path of stardom only after a long training period is (G) I-DLE’s Miyeon. Since a young age, Miyeon has been passionate about music and learned to play various instruments like guitar, violin, and piano. She auditioned for YG Entertainment and trained under it for the next five years, only to leave the company after her debut was thwarted. She worked hard to improve her vocal skills and even learned to compose and produce music.
After eight years of hard work and patience, she made her official debut under Cube Entertainment in 2018 and is one of those K-pop idols who have the longest training period! She has also spread her wings in the field of acting, hosting, and modeling and was last seen in the miniseries ‘Adult Trainee’ as Bang Ye-Kyung.
Also Read: Top Nine Best K-pop Albums That are Just Flawless!
4. NCT’s Johnny (8 years)
Before making his long-awaited debut as a member of the K-pop boy group NCT, Johnny trained with the members of SM Entertainment’s biggest groups, EXO and Red Velvet, until they began to prepare for their debut. He was originally selected through the SM Global Audition in Chicago, his birthplace, in 2007 and trained for the next eight years. Two years after he became a part of SM Rookies, he was supposed to debut with other members as a member of NCT but was unlucky, as he was left behind. Finally, as the lead dancer, sub-vocalist, and sub-rapper, Johnny debuted with NCT’s sub-unit, NCT 127, with the album ‘Limitless’ in 2017.
3. TWICE’s Jihyo (10 years)
The leader of South Korea’s number one girl group, TWICE’s Jihyo, doesn’t need an introduction anymore, but that doesn’t mean she had entered the industry with a silver spoon in her mouth. She began preparing for her music career at the age of nine under JYP Entertainment, and it was only in 2015 that she was able to make her debut in the industry after ten years of training and surviving in the K-pop reality show ‘Sixteen’. She is, in fact, a prime example of how hard work, perseverance, and passion can make one’s dreams come true. Along with the other teammates, the twenty-five-year-old singer released her first mini-album named ‘The Story Begins’.
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2. BIGBANG’s G-Dragon (11 years)
G-Dragon stands as one of the most influential K-pop idols who have made a huge impact on the youth of this generation. However, his success is not just the result of his talent or luck but because of his hard work, the consistent effort he has put into during his training period, and the desire to never give up. You would be amazed to find out that the leader of one of the most popular acts in the history of K-pop that helped the Korean wave to spread internationally, G-Dragon had trained for about 11 years before he finally made his debut as an SM Entertainment K-pop idol.
He became a trainee under YG Entertainment when he was eight years old and left the agency after five years. He had to switch to some other agencies as well and had to struggle hard to be a proper trainee. Fortunately, his hard work and passion paid off, now that he is successful in his life as a rapper, producer, singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and entrepreneur!
1. G.Soul (15 years)
Here comes the K-pop idol who has trained the longest! G.Soul became a JYP Entertainment trainee back in 2001, and after a journey of 15 long years, he made his official debut as a soloist in 2015 with his extended play, ‘Coming Home’. The South Korean singer and songwriter has also gained recognition for being the protege of R. Kelly when he was training under JYP USA.
He has produced two extended plays before leaving the agency in 2017 and joined H1ghr Music to deliver three new EPs. G.Soul is extremely talented, and after he earned first place in the singing reality show ‘Voice Korea 2020,’ he has definitely proven his worth!
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