A List of Kpop Idols Who Almost Debuted in Other Groups, Is Your Idol Among Them?

Kapanlagi.com - The K-Pop wave has swept the world, bringing captivating melodies and stunning choreography to various corners of Asia and beyond. With their melodious voices and heart-stealing visuals, these K-Pop idols have managed to capture attention and become undeniable global icons.

However, did you know that behind the glittering stage and the success they enjoy today, some of these K-Pop idols almost debuted in other groups? The stories behind the scenes often hold unexpected surprises and show how thin the line is between destiny and choice in the South Korean entertainment industry.

There are even names of big K-Pop idols today who almost joined other K-Pop groups! Curious who these idols are and how their journeys almost changed drastically? Let's discuss below!

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1. Jisoo BLACKPINK

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @sooyaaa_

Jisoo, the main visual and vocalist of BLACKPINK, is known for her charm and extraordinary talent. However, she almost debuted with another equally popular group, Red Velvet. While still a trainee at YG Entertainment, Jisoo was approached by a recruiter from SM Entertainment at a YG concert. She revealed that if she had not been under contract with YG at that time, she would likely have accepted the offer and debuted under SM Entertainment.

Jisoo joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in July 2011 and underwent five years of training before debuting with BLACKPINK in August 2016. During her pre-debut period, Jisoo was also active in various television commercials, music videos, and even K-Dramas, showcasing her versatile talent.

2. Wooyoung ATEEZ

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: instagram @wooyounggg_

Wooyoung, one of the members of ATEEZ known for his dancing and vocal abilities, has an interesting pre-debut story. He and Yeosang, another member of ATEEZ, were once trainees at Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE) alongside the members of TXT. The two of them were very close to the members of TXT and almost debuted with them.

However, Wooyoung and Yeosang left Big Hit Entertainment in 2016 before the final selection process for unspecified reasons. Many believe that they moved to KQ Entertainment in hopes of debuting sooner, and now they have achieved great success with ATEEZ.

3. Wendy Red Velvet

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @todayis_wendy

Wendy, the main vocalist of Red Velvet with a powerful voice, also almost debuted in another group. Before joining SM Entertainment, Wendy participated in a global audition held by Koreaboo and Cube Entertainment in 2010. Thanks to her extraordinary vocal abilities, she became one of the 15 finalists out of more than 5,000 audition participants.

Although Wendy did not win the overall competition, had she succeeded, there was a possibility that Cube Entertainment would recruit her and train her to debut with CLC. However, fate brought her to SM Entertainment, where she eventually debuted as the irreplaceable main vocalist of Red Velvet.

4. Jin BTS

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @jin

Jin, the oldest member and visual of the phenomenal group BTS, also has a surprising pre-debut story. While still in middle school in his hometown of Anyang, Jin was approached by a manager from SM Entertainment. However, young Jin thought the offer was a scam and did not follow up on it.

If only Jin had accepted the offer, he might have debuted with EXO a few years later. However, fate brought him to Big Hit Entertainment, and now he is known as one of the BTS members loved by millions of fans around the world.

5. Chaeryeong ITZY

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @chaerrry0

Chaeryeong, the main dancer and vocalist of ITZY, has had a long trainee journey at JYP Entertainment. She and her sister, Chaeyeon (former IZ*ONE), first appeared on the show K-Pop Star 3 in 2013, impressing audiences with their dancing skills. In 2015, Chaeryeong competed again on the survival show SIXTEEN, which formed the group TWICE.

Although she did not make it into the final lineup of TWICE, Chaeryeong remained at JYP Entertainment and continued her training for six years. She eventually debuted with ITZY in 2019, proving that her perseverance and talent paid off.

6. Shownu MONSTA X

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @shownuayo

Shownu, the leader, main dancer, and main vocalist of MONSTA X, also almost debuted in another group. Before joining Starship Entertainment, Shownu was a trainee at JYP Entertainment and trained alongside GOT7 members. He was even very close to the GOT7 members, especially Jinyoung and JB.

However, Shownu left JYP Entertainment due to frequent absences from practice. Despite this, he successfully debuted with MONSTA X and maintains a good relationship with the GOT7 members.

7. Miyeon (G)I-DLE

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @noodle.zip

Miyeon, the main vocalist of (G)I-DLE, has a pre-debut story often associated with BLACKPINK. She was a trainee at YG Entertainment and trained with BLACKPINK members for five years. In fact, BLACKPINK was originally scheduled to debut with five members, including Miyeon.

However, for undisclosed reasons, Miyeon was not included in the BLACKPINK debut lineup and left YG Entertainment. After that, she joined Cube Entertainment and eventually had a successful debut with (G)I-DLE in 2018.

8. Lily NMIXX

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @lily_nmixx

Lily, the vocalist of NMIXX with a powerful voice, also has a long pre-debut journey at JYP Entertainment. She was a trainee at JYP for nearly seven years after placing fourth in the K-Pop Star 4 competition in 2014. During her trainee period, Lily even provided hidden vocals in GOT7's song If You Do.

There is speculation that Lily was supposed to debut with ITZY, given that she had been a trainee at JYP Entertainment for a long time. However, she ultimately debuted as a member of NMIXX in 2022, showcasing her exceptional vocal talent.

9. Taemin SHINee

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group / cr: Instagram @xoalsox

Taemin, the main dancer and vocalist of SHINee known as the "Idol of Idols", also almost debuted in another group. Although he is one of the icons of SM Entertainment, there was a possibility that Taemin could have ended up in the group EXO.

Details about how Taemin almost debuted in EXO are not widely disclosed, but this highlights how dynamic the group formation process is in the K-Pop industry. Taemin eventually debuted with SHINee in 2008 and has built a very successful career both as a group member and as a solo artist.

10. S.Coups SEVENTEEN

Kpop idol who almost debuted in another group / cr: Instagram @sound_of_coups

S.Coups, the charismatic leader of SEVENTEEN, had a very long trainee period at Pledis Entertainment. He was one of the early trainees at the agency and was part of the "Pledis Boys". Initially, S.Coups was scheduled to debut with NU'EST, the first group of Pledis Entertainment.

However, after a lineup change, he was moved to another trainee group called TEMPEST, which unfortunately never debuted. S.Coups then became the leader of SEVENTEEN, which debuted in 2015, and has led the group to global success.

11. J-Hope BTS

Kpop idols who almost debuted in another group/cr: Instagram @uarmyhope

J-Hope, the main dancer, rapper, and sub-vocalist of BTS, also has an interesting pre-debut story. Before joining Big Hit Entertainment, J-Hope auditioned at JYP Entertainment. There is an audition video that showcases his incredible dancing skills when he was just 15 years old.

Although JYP Entertainment rejected him, if they had seen his potential like Big Hit Entertainment did, J-Hope might have debuted as part of GOT7. However, he ultimately joined Big Hit and became an inseparable part of BTS, which is now one of the biggest K-Pop groups in the world.

12. FAQ

Which K-Pop idols almost debuted in another group? Some of them include Jisoo BLACKPINK, Wooyoung ATEEZ, Wendy Red Velvet, Jin BTS, Chaeryeong ITZY, Shownu MONSTA X, Miyeon (G)I-DLE, Lily NMIXX, Taemin SHINee, S.Coups SEVENTEEN, and J-Hope BTS.

Which group did Jisoo BLACKPINK almost debut in? Before debuting with BLACKPINK, Jisoo was a trainee at SM Entertainment and almost debuted as a member of the girl group Red Velvet.

Are there any BTS members who almost debuted in another group? Yes, Jin BTS was approached by SM Entertainment and almost became a trainee for EXO, while J-Hope BTS was a trainee at JYP Entertainment and almost debuted with GOT7.

Why do K-Pop idols often almost debut in different groups? This is due to various factors such as changes in trainee lineups, agency decisions, or participation in survival shows, which highlight how competitive the K-Pop industry is.

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(kpl/mda)