Due to his handsome looks, THIS former K-pop trainee and ulzzang almost joined three of the most popular boy groups in history!
Why did his debut fail and whatever happened to him?
Who Is Han Gyuwan? Ulzzang Who Almost Debuted in SS501, SHINee, & EXO
On September 14, a former idol trainee became a hot topic among K-pop fans on SNS and online communities!
This person goes by the name Han Gyuwan, who impressed internet users after rumor said that he almost debuted in either of the three most popular boy groups in history — including SS501, SHINee, and EXO.
ALSO READ: Key Reveals SHINee Almost Debuted With 7-8 Trainees — Here Are 'Fixed' Members
Han Gyuwan became popular among 2nd-gen fans after it was revealed that he joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2006.
At the time, he drew massive attention for his looks, and to people's surprise, Han is actually an "ulzzang," an internet star who rose to popularity for his crazy visuals.
In popular sites such as Cyberworld and Naver, Han Gyuwan's photos circulated quickly among netizens. With that, he created a decent fandom with just his visuals alone.
As he became more popular, a lot of fans went on to look for more information about him.
Upon digging, fans found out that Gyuwan actually first joined DSP Media and almost joined the lineup of the K-pop icon, SS501, in 2005, but he left the agency prior to his debut for some reason.
Since then, he quietly prepared to debut in SM's new boy group after Super Junior, and it was SHINee who debuted in 2008.
Unfortunately, while there were rumors that he almost joined the group along with Moongyu (now in HOTSHOT), he failed to join the final lineup.
Despite that, he remained as a trainee under the company for a few more years and fans are certain that he will debut in the next boy group succeeding SHINee, which is now EXO.
Sadly, he wasn't included when the boy group was introduced in 2012.
Where Is Han Gyuwan in 2023? Former Trainee Boasts Unrelenting Visuals
After failing to debut in three groups, it seemed like Han Gyuwan gave up on his dream to become an idol and maintained a low profile since then.
However, on his personal Instagram, Gyuwan would share his photos with EXO and other SM Entertainment trainees, supporting them even after their debut until 2016.
In the same year, he got married, and he eventually welcomed two children, a daughter and a son.
In 2020, Han drew attention after posting actress Gong Seungyeon's photos, boasting about their friendship. In particular, the actress, who is also TWICE Jeongyeon's older sister once trained to become an idol under SM before she eventually chose the path as an actress.
After leaving the idol industry, Han Gyuwan focused on working for the automotive industry. Based on his recent Instagram, he also opened his personal business called, "Auto Winners" which offers services such as putting ppf, wrapping, polishing, coating and detailing of cars.
On August 23, the Gong sisters showed their support by visiting his shop two days before its opening and leaving their fan signs.
READ MORE: Male Idols Who Could've Debuted Under SM Entertainment + Reasons Why They Didn't
For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.
KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Eunice Dawson.
