While K-pop companies sign on numerous trainees every year, they let go of many as well. Whether it be because they didn't make the cut in their assessments or they broke a rule, any trainee can be kicked out at any moment.
These five idols who are now killing the game in K-pop used to be just like those trainees and had even almost been kicked out before they could make their debut! Fortunately, they were saved and are now superstars.
1. BTS's Jimin
Jimin has revealed on multiple occasions that he was removed from the line-up of BTS multiple days, including the day before their debut. The idol revealed to fans that though he was a trainee for a short time, he was kicked off the team around eight times. He went on to say that though he cannot name who, many people in the agency had opposed him joining the group.
The reason, according to Jimin, was because he wasn't a good dancer as a trainee. This is shocking for fans to hear, as Jimin is 1/2 of the main dancers in the group and has been praised numerous times for his skills. He mentioned in the past that since he majored in contemporary dance in high school, his style of dancing was different of that of an idol group, which made it challenging for him to adjust to BTS's style of choreography. Because of this, he almost didn't make his debut with the group.
2. AOA's Seolhyun
In 2017, Seolhyun revealed that she almost got kicked out of the company while she was a trainee, and was even asked to leave. During her trainee period, they would have to practice dancing and singing from 9AM until midnight. She had skipped one day with other trainees to watch the movie "Kung Fu Panda 2" and thought they would get away with it. And they almost did... until they bumped into the head of the company at the same movie theater!
As a punishment, the company had ordered all the trainees involved to leave the company immediately. In the end, however, he had reconsidered and called all the trainees back, allowing them to continue their training.
3. Super Junior's Heechul
Back in 2017, Super Junior's Heechul revealed on "Happy Together" that he had almost been kicked out of SM Entertainment as a trainee. He shared that he was a rebellious trainee and was arrogant during his youth. One time, his trainer had approached him to ask what song he was listening to. Heechul replied that he was listening to a rock song, which led his teacher to scold him for listening to the song, saying that he had to listen to music that he was instructed to studying. He snapped back at his teacher, saying, "You don't study rock music."
The teacher was offended by his attitude and scolded him. He was told to write a letter of apology. However, Heechul believed he did nothing wrong and instead wrote a cheeky letter that said, "Though I did nothing wrong, I'll write this." The letter just repeatedly said "I'm sorry" over and over.
He was suspended for his actions. Heechul had revealed that he was suspended from the training program numerous times and continued with his actions with the mindset that if they wanted him back, they knew where to find him. The reason he was brought back from the company was because Lee Soo Man had noticed Heechul was not in the company and asked where he was.
4. EXO's Lay
Though unconfirmed, it has been said that he was kicked out SM Entertainment as a trainee. An EXO-L had shared the news, saying Lay was kicked out of the company for fighting with a trainee over a bowl of rice. The idol had returned to their shared dorm after training and had seen the bowl of rice on the table. Since he was hungry and tired, he ate it. Another trainee saw him eating and was angered at Lay, saying he had prepared it for himself. Since both trainees were tired and hungry, they ended up fighting. When SM Entertainment found out, they told him to pack up and return to China. SM Entertainment later gave him another chance and Lay had used the time to self-reflect on his actions.
5. Block B's P.O
Many people don't know that Block B's P.O and WINNER's Mino were childhood friends and had even trained together in the same company and had trained to debut in a rap duo. P.O had revealed that they had slept, trained, and composed together and had planed to debut in a duo like Dynamic Duo. When they started training, however, the company had favored Mino over P.O.
During their training, however, the CEO of the company, Rhymer, had decided to let go of P.O but keep Mino on as a trainee. When their CEO sat them down to tell them the news, P.O had accepted the news, but Mino announced right on the spot that if P.O was let go, he would quit.
P.O shared that he was so touched by his friend's actions. That night, they had a sleepover at Mino's house, but P.O couldn't shake off what had happened that day. He ended up waking up that night and asked to speak with Mino's parents in the living room. He had told them what happened that day and said Mino had to go continue training, even it meant training without him.
Mino ended up continuing his training, but P.O didn't give up! He lost weight and trained independently for a year and was welcomed back to the company. The two may have not ended up debuting together, but the two are still friends!
