13 K-Pop Idols You Never Knew Were Once Big Hit Entertainment Trainees

While Reddy, Loco, Basick, and Beenzino may have auditioned or been asked to join Big Hit Entertainment, they may have never trained there. Instead, training alongside BTS were some other idols who may just surprise you!

1. Kidoh (former Topp Dogg member)

Kidoh began his career as a trainee with the now famous company.

He was originally preparing to be a part of BTS but eventually left the group. Afterward, he would join Topp Dogg.

He would leave that group too, and strike out on his solo career.

2. SinB (GFRIEND)

It might be surprising to hear that Big Hit Entertainment once had female trainees but there were a few of them. In fact, SinB used to be one of those trainees!

She was a trainee there since she was 12 and pretty much grew up with BTS. According to another trainee, she was known for her dance!

When Big Hit Entertainment cut their female trainees, the girls moved to Source Music and made their debut with GFRIEND.

3. Kim Sanggyun (former JBJ member)

The former JBJ and Topp Dogg member was once a trainee with Big Hit Entertainment before moving agencies and making his debut with Topp Dogg.

4. i11ven

i11ven was originally part of the DNH Crew and made a name for himself as an underground rapper.

Eventually, he became a trainee with Big Hit Entertainment but that didn’t last for long before he left.

5. Eunha (GFRIEND)

SinB and Eunha actually knew each other before debuting together since they were both trainees under Big Hit Entertainment. Eunha was said to have joined the company after SinB and wanted to focus on her dance.

Eventually, they went to Source Music and the rest is history!

6. Jeong Inseong (KNK)

Before making his debut with KNK, Jeong Inseong was once a trainee at Big Hit Entertainment as well as FNC Entertainment.

In an interview shortly after KNK made their debut, he had nothing but kind words for his trainee mates!

The hardest time for me before I debuted is when I left the agency where we trained. I was a trainee at Big Hit at first and the other trainees there weren’t competitive and everyone really got along together. Everyone was gentle and kind.

We received tickets to a BTS concert recently and we went together with all of our members. I was really happy and proud to see my friends, who I trained with since the beginning, being so successful.

— Jeong Inseong

7. Park Seoham (KNK)

Jeong Inseong isn’t the only KNK member to train at Big Hit Entertainment. Park Seoham also trained with BTS!

But BTS isn’t the only famous group he trained with! He was also a trainee under JYP Entertainment for a time and trained with GOT7.

In the same interview that Jeong Inseong talked about BTS, Park Seoham had his own words to say.

I think watching my friends, who debuted first, becoming successful is a good stimulus for me. I am sincerely happy that they are doing so well. I first met them when I was 19 and we got along really well back then. I even bought three BTS albums with my own money. I am jealous though. If I said I wasn’t I would be lying. But I want to sincerely congratulate them.

— Park Seoham

8. Suwoong (Boys Republic)

Suwoong was once a trainee from the company and even trained with BTS!

On The Unit he had performed BTS’s “Fire” and explained his history with the group.

I trained at Big Hit and I was lucky enough to get into the debut team. I recorded [for an album] and even posed for the album cover photo shoot but then the team was dismantled.

— Suwoong

He trained with them for about a year, then left and made his debut with Boys Republic.

9. Sojin (former 9MUSES member)

The former 9MUSES member was also one of the few female trainees of Big Hit Entertainment.

When the company no longer accepted female trainees she moved companies and made her debut with 9MUSES.

10. Laun (ONF)

When Laun first made his debut he gathered a lot of attention thanks to the rumors that he was a former trainee with BTS. And according to one interview with him, those rumors are true!

Before joining WM Entertainment, Laun was preparing for a debut with BTS.

I used to practice together with BTS sunbaenims. I was 14-years-old at that time. The age gap was so big and there were various reasons that made us unable to debut together.

However, seeing them as a huge singers made me dream even more. After that, I met the ONF hyungs and I have made a lot of memories with them.

— Laun

11. Ahn Hyunseob (Produce 101)

Produce 101 gave us a big shock when one of the trainees revealed they had a previous history with Big Hit Entertainment.

Ahn Hyunseob revealed that he was a trainee there before moving to Yuehua Entertainment!

12. IRON

IRON was rumored to be a part of the original line up of BTS and was supposed to be in a duo with RM but things just didn’t work out. Eventually, he left to do his own thing, taking second place on Show Me The Money 3. Later, he would be embroiled in a series of assault charges against his ex-girlfriend.