BABYMONSTER's Members Reveal How Long They Were Trainees

Though their original debut might have been a met with lukewarm responses back in November 2023 with the digital single “Batter Up”, BABYMONSTER has been getting more positive responses after their seven-member comeback with Ahyeon. The album BABYMONS7ER and accompanying title track “SHEESH” have been performing well for the rookie group, and their live performances have left netizens’ jaws on the floor with their impressive vocals.

While the members of the group are quite young — between the ages of 15 and 22 — it was recently revealed just how long each of them were trainees at YG Entertainment before they debuted, and it breaks the trend of modern-day K-Pop idols typically having shorter trainee periods than in the past.

Four of the members — Asa, Ruka, Rora, and Rami — started their trainee period in 2018. Asa and Ruka started in April 2018, Rora started in July 2018, and Rami started in September 2018. This means that each of them trained for about 5-6 years before they debuted.

This also means that the ages they started their trainee period are as follows: Asa at age 12, Ruka at age 16, Rora at age 9, and Rami at age 10.

Ahyeon started her trainee period in January 2019 at the age of 11, meaning her trainee period lasted about 5 years.

Meanwhile, Pharita had been a trainee since the age of 15 and started in October 2020 (giving her a 3-year training period) while Chiquita had the shortest trainee period of two and a half years, starting in July 2021 at age 12.

Here’s how netizens are reacting to the news of the impressively long trainee periods of BABYMONSTER’s members, especially compared to some of the less-than-a-year-long training periods that other fourth and fifth generation idols had.