K-pop trainees switching agencies is very common, with many exploring and training under various labels during their pre-debut journey. While some idols train exclusively under one agency, others find their way to different companies. YG Entertainment, one of the original "Big Three" K-pop companies, which has produced some of the biggest K-pop names, debuted several idols who originally trained under other South Korean agencies before finding their place in YG's roster.
Let’s delve into these artists and the agencies where they trained before moving to YG.
G-DRAGON
G-Dragon, the leader of the legendary YG boy group BIGBANG, was once a SM trainee. He first gained attention as a member of the kids' group Little Roora. After the group’s disbandment, GD joined SM Entertainment at the age of 8 and trained there for four years. Later driven by his passion for hip-hop and rap, G-Dragon switched to YG Entertainment and rose to stardom as a member of BIGBNAG.
CL
CL, who is the leader of the iconic YG girl group 2NE1, has a fascinating pre-debut history that includes her time as a JYP trainee. CL’s unique style, fierce rap skills, and strong presence would later become defining features of 2NE1, but before joining YG, she spent time training at JYP Entertainment, one of the "Big Three" entertainment companies in South Korea.
MINO
WINNER’s Mino's journey to YG Entertainment was far from straightforward. Initially, he trained under Brand New Stardom and was set to debut with BLOCK B. However, after leaving, he spent nearly two years training with Y2Y Contents Company and debuted with B.o.M. under the stage name Tagoon. Later, he joined YG Entertainment as a trainee, eventually competing in their survival show “WIN: Who Is
Next?” and debuted with WINNER.
CHAN
CHAN from iKON began his journey in the entertainment industry with Kids Planet Entertainment from 2005 to 2010. After leaving the company, he trained under Fantagio Music until 2014 as part of the pre-debut team i-Teen. In 2014, he participated in YG’s survival show “MIX & MATCH,” which ultimately led to his debut as the youngest member of iKON.
RORA
Before debuting with YG Entertainment as a member of BABYMONSTER, RORA was a part of the kids girl group U.SSO Girl and was known by the stage name U.ha. The group is under the management of Kids Planet, a subsidiary of 4D Label Entertainment, which is itself a division of ON1 Entertainment. This early experience in the music industry provided RORA with a solid foundation and skill set, valuable for her future as a YG artist.
These K-pop idols' stories of switching agencies before debuting under YG Entertainment show that every training experience played a crucial role in shaping them into the artists they are today.
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