Stray Kids’ Bang Chan Apologises To Members For His Behavior During Trainee Days
Stray Kids’ leader Bang Chan recently opened up in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, sharing an emotional story about his early days as a trainee. The candid moment struck a chord with fans, as Bang Chan reflected on how his struggles during that time shaped his behavior toward the members.
Looking back, Bang Chan admitted he felt sorry for being distant and cold during those years. His trainee period was tough — he watched many of his close friends debut or leave while new faces came and went. It was a constant cycle, and over time, it took a toll on him. To protect himself from getting hurt, he made the decision to keep his guard up and not get too close to anyone.
When asked whether he was a strict leader or not, Bang Chan answered with full honesty. Bang Chan called his trainee days the “darkest time of [his] life.”
I feel really sorry for how coldly I treated the members back then. My trainee period was quite long. I was the only one left as all of my close friends debuted, left, new members came in, and then they disappeared again… Going through that cycle, I noticed my personality changed drastically over time. I made a decision not to get close to anyone anymore because I didn’t want to get hurt again. That was probably the darkest time in my life. I was questioning, ‘What will happen to my life now?’ and then the members appeared in front of me.
— Bang Chan
However, as Bang Chan says, the other Stray Kids members eventually helped him become more positive. They came into his life and slowly changed everything for the better.
Fans have been flooding social media with love and support for Bang Chan after hearing his heartfelt story. Many have praised him for being vulnerable and thanked him for always putting his members and fans first, even during difficult times.
Hearing Bang Chan reflect on those tough years and apologize for his past actions just shows how much he’s grown as a leader. It’s clear that his journey wasn’t easy, but it’s also what made him the caring and thoughtful leader that fans and members look up to today. Fans couldn’t be prouder of him for opening up and showing just how far he’s come.
