LE SSERAFIM’s Chaewon Spills On How She Really Felt About Going Back To Being A Trainee Before Making Her Second Debut With LE SSERAFIM

As already established K-Pop idols, LE SSERAFIM‘s Chaewon and Sakura would be forgiven for having mixed feelings about the process they had to go through to debut with LE SSERAFIM.

In a recent interview with Weverse Magazine, Chaewon spilled her true feelings on training for her second debut, and it showcases her true character.

Chaewon and Sakura were both members of the former girl group IZ*ONE until it was disbanded in 2021. IZ*ONE proved to be a huge hit in the industry and continues to have devoted fans all around the world.

After the group’s disbandment, Chaewon and Sakura took fans by surprise when they were announced as members of the rookie group LE SSERAFIM, though their new debut was far from unwelcome. Yet, as it turns out, debuting with LE SSERAFIM meant that they had to start all over again from the beginning, despite being experienced idols already.

Speaking with Weverse Magazine about the group’s intense practice regimen, Chaewon was asked about LE SSERAFIM’s documentary, The World Is My Oyster. She commented on how surprised fans had been to see all the work she had been doing to debut with LE SSERAFIM, including starting from the basics as a trainee.

I don’t think they knew how much was going on after I said I was working with a new label. I don’t think they realized I started from the very beginning, doing training and all the basics as a trainee. I got a lot of messages saying they were surprised and telling me “you sure worked hard.” And saying they’re proud of me.

— Chaewon

Journalist Yoon Haein asked her, “What do you think of when you think back to that time?” Chaewon admitted she was glad that people had found the members’ story so interesting. But many people had also noted to her that it must have been hard to have gone from being in a popular girl group to starting again from scratch as a trainee.

I kept seeing how people were saying Kkura and me are so tough. They said it must’ve been hard to have been in a popular girl group and then start all over again from the beginning and that it was impressive we did.

— Chaewon

Hearing that, however, made her realize how well she was doing. It was a difficult challenge to start all over again, she admits, but it ended up being an important experience.

That’s when I first realized I was doing well—that I was doing great. I could feel all those compliments making me feel better. And looking back now, I think it was a phenomenal opportunity. It was really challenging to go through at the time, but I feel like I had to experience all that.

— Chaewon

Even though Chaewon was already an impressive idol and performer with IZ*ONE, her hard work with LE SSERAFIM has more than paid off. And her commitment to self-improvement says a lot about her as a person!