The "Big 3" entertainment agencies, namely SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment, produced many artists who are now widely known around the world. While they are home to renowned singers, these agencies rejected several auditionees who are now successful idols as well.
Below are some of the K-pop idols who got rejected by the "Big 3" and debuted under a different label.
10 K-pop Idols Who Got Turned Down by 'Big 3' and Debuted Under Other Companies
IU
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First off the list, we have IU who is one of the top female solo artists in South Korea and is currently an artist under Kakao M (formerly called LOEN Entertainment). She went through multiple auditions before settling as an idol, and two of the companies she auditioned for are SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment but was rejected.
BTS J-Hope
BTS J-Hope is widely known to be a singer managed by Big Hit Music under HYBE. But, before he got into his current agency, he initially auditioned to become a trainee at JYP Entertainment but failed to. Well, he might not have become ARMYs' "Hope" if he got accepted.
INFINITE Sunggyu
INFINITE Sunggyu is another K-pop idol who tried to become an SM trainee, not only once but twice. He first auditioned in 2007 but was turned down. He again auditioned in 2008, but he received the same result. Hence, he ended up joining Woollim Entertainment.
Kim Chungha
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Female soloist Kim Chungha was also rejected by one of the "Big 3" entertainment companies, particularly YG Entertainment. During "YG Treasure Box" in 2018, YG's founder Yang Hyun Suk revealed that he regrets missing out on Chungha.
Former AOA Choa
Like the other K-pop artists on the list, former AOA member Choa also auditioned for several agencies before ending up in FNC Entertainment, one of them being SM Entertainment. She was so determined to become an SM trainee that she auditioned for SM 15 times, but was turned down each time.
BTOB Sungjae
BTOB member Sungjae also tried getting into JYP Entertainment but didn't make the cut so he wasn't accepted. When Sungjae asked JYP's founder J.Y. Park why he was rejected, the latter responded that it might be because of his hairstyle looking "terrible."
Crush
Crush is another popular K-pop soloist who YG Entertainment's Yang Hyun Suk regrets letting go. While he has achieved success in the K-pop industry, he was not as appealing during his audition for the agency as today.
Former GFRIEND Yuju
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Former GFRIEND member Yuju is another K-pop idol rejected by JYP Entertainment. She auditioned in the reality competition show "K-pop Star 1," where J.Y. Park was one of the judges and gave a remark saying, "Your voice is plain."
Yuju then made her way to Source Music and ultimately became the main vocalist of GFRIEND.
EXID Hani
Hani originally sent an audition clip to JYP Entertainment and even drew attention because of her skills. Sadly, she didn't get accepted. She then searched for another agency and managed to join Banana Culture, where she debuted as an EXID member.
Block B Zico
The last idol on our list is Block B Zico, who SM Entertainment rejected at the time he was an underground rapper. There were times when he was close to becoming an SM trainee but eventually didn't get the chance. So, he joined Stardom Entertainment, where he debuted as the leader and main rapper of Block B.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
