Many K-pop idols at present were scouted by entertainment companies at a young age, particularly when they were still attending elementary school and were yet to enter their teenage years. Below are 10 K-pop idols who started training before they turned 13.
8 K-pop Idols Who Became Trainees Before Turning 13 Years Old
f(x) Krystal
f(x) member Krystal is probably the idol who became a trainee at the youngest age. She was initially scouted by SM Entertainment when she was just five years old. However, her parents rejected the offer as they believed that Krystal was still too young to train.
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She then became a celebrity when she was seven years old, consistently appearing in commercials. Krystal's parents later gave her permission to become a trainee at SM Entertainment when she turned 12.
After three years of undergoing SM's training system, Krystal finally debuted as an f(x) member in 2009.
BoA
Another SM artist who became a trainee before she turned 13 years old is BoA. SShe began training when she was only 11 years old. She not only became an SM trainee at a young age, but became a K-pop idol at a young age as well.
BoA made her debut when she was 13 years old.
BIGBANG G-Dragon
G-Dragon began his career in the Korean entertainment industry as a member of the kids group, called Little Roo'Ra, when he was just six years old.
After turning eight, G-Dragon was accepted as a trainee at SM Entertainment, where he trained for five years.
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He later left SM for YG Entertainment once he got more interested in rapping. In 2006, he debuted as BIGBANG's leader, main rapper, and face of the group.
Former 2NE1 Minzy
Like BoA, Minzy also started her training when she was just 11 years old. She was a trainee at YG Entertainment for four years before she made her debut as the main dancer of 2NE1 in 2009.
Despite debuting when she was only 15 years old, Minzy showed maturity.
TWICE Jihyo
Jihyo's age when she began her training at JYP Entertainment is the same as BIGBANG G-Dragon - she was eight years old at that time as well.
In fact, Jihyo trained alongside K-pop idols from the second-generation, including the members of miss A, 2PM, Sunmi, and more.
Besides being one of the K-pop singers to become a trainee at a young age, TWICE Jihyo also became one of the idols with the longest training period. She trained for 10 years before she ultimately debuted as the leader of TWICE.
IVE Jang Wonyoung
Jang Wonyoung was accepted as a trainee at Starship Entertainment when she was only 12 years old. She then competed in Mnet's "Produce 48" when she was 13 years old.
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Although she already stepped into the spotlight at such a young age, Wonyoung has always been a mature person.
SHINee Taemin
Taemin was only 11 years old when he became an SM trainee. In spite of his young age, SM Entertainment accepted Taemin immediately because of his potential. When he turned 14, he officially debuted as a member of SHINee.
Former Wonder Girls Sohee
Another former JYP trainee on the list is Sohee. Her training at JYP Entertainment started when she was only 12 years old. Sohee then trained for three years and debuted as a Wonder Girls member when she was 15.
Do you know other K-pop idols who became trainees before they entered their teenage years?
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Written by Maria Scott
