Stray Kids’ I.N Wouldn’t Have Debuted Without Bang Chan, Here’s How Bang Chan Made Sure He Could

In the most recent episode of Stray Kids‘ YouTube series “2 Kids Room,” members Bang Chan and I.N were paired up to talk while the other members watched from behind a screen and added their own thoughts.

From the very beginning of the episode, the incredible relationship between Bang Chan and I.N is apparent. Although Bang Chan is the eldest and leader of Stray Kids, I.N starts the conversation by saying that Bang Chan has been talking to him a lot more about his concerns.

Which was something I.N asked him to do in an earlier iteration of “2 Kids Room,” called “Two Kids Room.” And Bang Chan admits that he does feel comfortable coming to I.N about any concerns he might have.

The other members, watching the two talk, also brought up how the two seem to have a special bond, specifically because of how close they got as trainees.

Han explains their connection as not acting like biological siblings but instead having the close relationship of “older and younger brothers who grew up in the same neighborhood since they were young.”

And although according to Han, Bang Chan and I.N no longer care much about their age difference, there used to be a big divide before Stray Kids debuted.

I.N brings up the fact that although he did debut as a member of Stray Kids, it was also possible that he could have debuted as the leader of JYP Entertainment‘s future boy group.

And I.N directly attributes his debut with Stray Kids to Bang Chan’s help.

Hyunjin shares that he remembers when I.N was a trainee in the weekend class at JYP Entertainment.

One time Hyunjin and I.N “scheduled a time at night to practice together.”

But, “I.N hadn’t learned the choreography properly.”

But the next day, at lunchtime, Hyunjin saw that “Bang Chan and I.N were practicing by themselves.”

And Hyunjin explains that the reason Bang Chan worked so hard with I.N was because he wanted them to debut together.

And because I.N had less time as a trainee than them, it wasn’t easy, but I.N managed to debut through his own work ethic and with Bang Chan’s help.

And I.N himself says that he “wouldn’t have been able to debut if it weren’t for [Bang Chan].”

Since I.N was so young when he was a trainee, he didn’t really think debuting with Stray Kids was a possibility, but Bang Chan gave him the opportunity, and he took it.

And, certainly, Stray Kids would be lacking if Bang Chan hadn’t been so supportive of I.N debuting with them.