Being an idol under the "Big 3" agencies is a big deal, that's why several trainees are thriving and striving to enter at least one of the three agency giants. Among thousands of individuals from all over the world who aspire to be a "Big 3" idol, being cast by a staff coming directly from these companies is a huge advantage, given that not everyone is given such an opportunity.
The following list is a compilation of K-pop idols that were supposed to be in SM Entertainment, the top entertainment agency, as trainees and idols. They, however, refused to be one or quit halfway due to these reasons.
1. BTS's Jin
View this post on InstagramON 석지니 A post shared by BTS JIN 김석진 (@jin.bts) on Mar 25, 2020 at 4:25pm PDT
The one and only "Worldwide Handsome" and vocalist of BTS, Jin, is currently an idol who holds significant popularity and global influence. Surely, BTS is not BTS without Jin. However, if Jin accepted the offer by staff to audition under SM Entertainment, the idol could have been growling and dancing to "Love Shot" by EXO, hadn't he thought that he was being scammed! But no regrets, coming from a poor agency, through BTS's grit and passion, they are now the top K-pop group on the new generation, not only domestically but as well as internationally!
2. PENTAGON's Jinho
View this post on Instagram[ HQ ] Slide for happiness ️ - © Stella Polaris A post shared by PENTAGON (펜타곤) - Jinho 진호 (@jinho_pentagon) on Jan 4, 2020 at 11:04pm PST
Jinho, member PENTAGON, was an SM Trainee. He even participated in the SM Ballad project group and was preparing to become an EXO member as well. However, seeing his friends debut, he left the label to try his luck with his current agency, CUBE Entertainment, as soon as he heard that they were debuting a group.
But nope, it's not Jinho's loss, but SM Entertainment's, as they could have been debuting an amazing main vocalist next to their Super Junior's KRY, SHINee's Jonghyun, EXO's Chen, Baekhyun, and D.O., and many more.
3. Park Jihoon (former WANNA ONE member)
View this post on Instagram문구는 #pass A post shared by 박지훈 Park Jihoon (@0529.jihoon.ig) on Feb 15, 2020 at 6:30am PST
People fell in love with his jeojang gesture in MNET's Produce 101, until he debuted in WANNAONE. After the disbandment of the group, Jihoon debuted as an actor and also released his first solo album in 2019. However, according to reports, Jihoon could have been an SM Entertainment artist and is rumored to have had debuted as an NCT member.
4. BIGBANG's G-Dragon
View this post on Instagram@we11done Last night in Osaka #Bigbangjapandometour2017 #Day1 A post shared by 권지용(權志龍) (@xxxibgdrgn) on Nov 23, 2017 at 10:18pm PST
Lee Soo Man has a keen eye, indeed, when it comes to talents, as G-Dragon amazed SM's founder during a dance competition. There's a probability that the icon could have been a Super Junior member if he didn't fell in love with hip-hop through Wu-Tang Clan and later on scouted by Yang Hyun Suk. BIGBANG then debuted in 2006, year after Super Junior debuted.
5. Woojin (former Stray Kids member)
View this post on Instagrami am beyond broken and sad after hearing the news about woojin leaving stray kids. I can't even begin to explain what im feeling right now. idk what to do. I've wished and hoped that this would never happen. no matter what woojin will be a part of Stray Kids. no matter what skz will be 9. no matter what I will always support woojin and all of skz. please don't blame the other members OR him for what happened. please don't pay any attention to the hate comments/tweets/posts about the situation. even though we are sad and hurt, I hope we could all respect this decision, because he did it for a reason. it hurts but if he thought this was best then I just hope he's okay. I just don't know how I'll be able to watch any skz content without woojin in it. i love you woojin. so fucking much. A post shared by KIM WOOJIN (김우진) fanpage (@woojin_straykids) on Oct 27, 2019 at 8:43pm PDT
The former member of Stray Kids member, Woojin, who left the group in 2019, was actually a supposed to be a member of SM Entertainment's global project, NCT. After training for a year with the current NCT members, he left SM to join JYP Entertainment. But in October last year, he decided to leave the rookie group and agency due to his personal reasons.
Fate indeed works in mysterious ways, but fans are nonetheless happy at how things turned out. Whichever group they debuted with, they played a significant role in the K-pop industry
