Whether it was to support themselves, their families, or their careers, these nine idols worked part-time prior to their debut.
1. BTS's Suga
Before Suga debuted in the supergroup BTS, he had to make a living to support himself during his trainee years. He worked part-time as a delivery driver, which sadly led to a serious motorcycle accident that led to a severe shoulder injury. It still affects his dancing today.
2. Former WANNA ONE's Ong Seong Woo
Fans have dubbed One Seong Woo as "The King of Part-Time Jobs" for working numerous jobs during his ten years of training. Most of his gigs include modeling: wedding modeling, hair modeling, fitting modeling, and modeling for a shopping mall.
3. Former SISTAR's Soyou
Soyou was compelled to start working at sixteen because her family was not well off. She worked hard to get her hairdresser certificate and worked part-time in a hair salon. She has also worked part-time in a gas station. The idol herself has stated that she has done almost every type of part-time work.
4. ZE:A's Im Siwan
Im Siwan was known as a perfect student, being the class president and top of the class during his time in school. Before his debut, he studied mechanical engineering at Busan University and earned money as a private tutor, teaching English, mathematics, and physics.
5. VIXX's Ken
Prior to his debut, Ken worked part-time at a popular hamburger chain Loteria for nine months. He admitted on the show "The Capable Ones" that from a row of hamburgers, he can successfully identify which one is from Loteria.
6. Choa (formerly of AOA)
After failing an audition when she was 20, Choa worked hard to be promoted as a saleswoman of IPTV bundled products. She worked so hard she had the best sales from all the employees. Using the money she saved from her work, she trained and practiced hard to succeed in her next audition. She ended up joining FNC Entertainment and debuted with AOA.
7. Geummi (formerly of Crayon Pop)
Geummi's past work is unique, and you may not have heard it! Geummi worked as a hair follicle separator, where she had to separate the follicle from the hair so that it can be used in hair follicle transplants!
8. Insoo (formerly on MYNAME)
Insoo has already exposed to celebrities before his debut, thanks to his part-time job! He worked as a ballet teacher for famous rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon Jae and Shin Soo Ji. Shin Soo Ji even personally requested lessons from him!
9. FTISLAND's Lee Hongki
From working in beauty shops to being a delivery man, there is no part-time work that Lee Hongki hasn't done. According to the idol, the most difficult job was working as a delivery driver for a Chinese restaurant and having to pick up the delivery containers. In Korea, delivery food comes in actual plates and needs to be returned to the restaurant. Because of this, Lee Hongki believes every delivery driver should receive a tip.
