K-pop trainees undergo years of training before debuting in highly competitive environments. Some manage to debut with the companies where they began, while others transition to new agencies. HYBE and YG Entertainment, two of the ‘Big 4’ South Korean agencies, are especially known for their rigorous training systems. YG Entertainment in particular has produced several skilled trainees who later became key members of groups under other agencies, including HYBE.

Let’s delve into five former trainees from YG Entertainment who are now idols at HYBE.

Lee Seoyeon [fromis_9]

Lee Seoyeon, the rapper of fromis_9, spent over seven years as a trainee. During her time at YG Entertainment, she gained popularity as a member of the pre-debut group "Future 2NE1" training from 2010 to 2017. YGE showcased her skills in a YouTube video, and she even appeared in GD&TOP’s "Knock Out" MV.

Danielle [NewJeans]

Danielle, the popular member from K-pop sensation NewJeans who quickly skyrocketed to fame upon debut, has a training history under YG Entertainment. This talented Korean-Australian singer and lyricist trained under YGE from 2019 to 2020 and later moved to ADOR, where she debuted in 2022.

Myung Jaehyun [BOYNEXTDOOR]

The rapper and leader of the rookie boy group BOYNEXTDOOR, Myung Jaehyun, has a background as a trainee under YG Entertainment from 2016-2021. He is close with the members of the YG boy group TREASURE and used to train with them. He later joined Zico’s label, KOZ Entertainment, a subsidiary under HYBE.

Park Minju [ILLIT]

ILLIT, the rising rookie girl group that was formed through the reality survival show ‘R U NEXT?’ is under Belift Lab, which is a subsidiary under HYBE. One of the key members of the group Park Minju trained under YG Entertainment from 2019-2021 and is known to be close with YG’s rookie girl group BABYMONSTER.

Han Jihoon [TWS]

Han Jihoon from the rookie boy group TWS under HYBE's subsidiary Pledis Entertainment gained considerable popularity as a trainee in the pre-debut boy group Trainee A. He has a notable history of training under renowned agencies like JYP Entertainment, BigHit Music, and YG Entertainment. He trained under YG from 2017 to 2019.

These former YG trainees turned HYBE idols, each with their own unique talents and experiences, have managed to thrive in new environments. Who is your favorite idol from the list?