Most fans only know the current complete 7-member lineup of BTS, without realizing that BTS was originally a project in which many trainees from Big Hit Music competed against each other before debut. The current 7 members of BTS and several other trainees, including Kim Jihoon and Hwan Jihwan, lived together in a dormitory during that training period.
In the end, Kim Jihoon and Hwan Jihwan were unfortunate not to debut in the official lineup, but that was also the starting point that shaped them and the BTS 7 we know today!
Although idol life may not have gone smoothly for these two trainees, later on both of them established their positions in their new professional fields. Hwang Jihwan is now working as a vocal coach at prestigious academies, while Kim Jihoon has made a name for himself as a fitness trainer.
Recalling the time they were trained by Big Hit Music, the two former trainees shared memorable moments with the BTS superstars, especially the reactions of the current BTS members when they witnessed the departure of their fellow group trainees.
In an interview with Korea Now, Kim Jihoon and Hwan Jihwan pointed out that at the time Big Hit Music was training trainees for the BTS project, the company was in a very difficult situation due to a lack of manpower and finances. Therefore, to minimize all costs, Big Hit Music dismissed most of the trainees, keeping only those with potential to debut under the name BTS. Kim Jihoon and Hwan Jihwan were among the trainees who were asked to leave the dormitory.
Kim explained in detail that Big Hit would dismiss several trainees each week, and when he received the notice, he was not surprised to be among them. He was not surprised because, after witnessing Jungkook’s talent, he realized that he could not reach that level. That thought made it easier for him to accept the company’s decision. He said: "When talking about geniuses, we always talk about him (Jungkook). I came to realize that I couldn't be like Jungkook after seeing him".
In that situation, he did not share the news with anyone, but somehow RM found out. According to Kim, RM was “sad” when he heard that he was leaving. While Kim was practicing dancing, RM walked in and asked if he was going to leave.
Kim Jihoon also said that RM had to say goodbye to many trainees during that time. On the other hand, he and RM had a close relationship because they spent a lot of time together during his year as a trainee at Big Hit Music, so RM’s sadness was even more apparent.
Meanwhile, Hwang Jihwan also had a similar perspective on leaving Big Hit Music as a trainee. He revealed that the company mainly focused on vocal training for him, which made him believe that perhaps he was not meant to be part of BTS, but rather another group the company might form in the future. However, when Big Hit Music announced that it would cut training costs to focus on BTS’s debut, he realized he had to leave the company because there were no other projects left.
Hwang also shared that when he heard the news, all his trainee friends comforted him, possibly including some of the current BTS members. He recalled: "My friends comforted me. I did think that I would be the one to leave soon so it wasn't that hard".
These stories show how fierce the competition to become an idol is, and it is no surprise that many trainees cannot debut. The seven members of BTS who debuted as we see them today are the elite who passed through countless rigorous elimination rounds. Their resounding success is clear proof that effort and perseverance will ultimately be rewarded. At the same time, it also shows a touch of destiny — as if they were born to be on stage, “born to be singers.”
