Top Third-Generation Idol Reveals Relying on Hand-Me-Downs Throughout Trainee Period

SEVENTEEN’s Joshua reveals trainee days were tougher than fans thought

Joshua from SEVENTEEN opened up about his harsh trainee days on comedian Hong Jin Kyung’s YouTube show, Zzin_Genius, on November 5, KST.

The idol said Pledis Entertainment scouted him at a Korean festival, but training wasn’t easy. He admitted the agency gave them only one meal a day. For the rest, he had to rely on his mother’s money.

“It’s incomparable,” Joshua said when asked about how much his income has changed since then.

He got just 500,000 won a month (around $340 USD), which he had to use for food and clothes. Money was so tight, he often calculated and cut back on food.

Joshua shared how their seniors from NU’EST helped by passing down old clothes.

“The senior colleagues from NU’EST… When they gave us their clothes, we would choose from them.”

After years of struggle, when SEVENTEEN started making money, Joshua bought his first luxury bag — and still carries it today.

“I think I will keep this forever, really,” he said with a smile.

Fans reacted strongly to Joshua’s honesty about their rough start.

Twitter user @seungkwanmeow pointed out the low income:

500,000 won is 340 usd btw… and yall say svt didn’t have it hard

Another fan highlighted SEVENTEEN’s generosity toward newer artists:

Seventeen definitely knows how hard is training days and being rookie. That’s why they spoil TWS with new shoes, ipad, and eating out. Cos they know the feeling of someone reaching out to them.

To Nuest, Super Junior and other seniors who are kind to nugu seventeen that time:

The story reminded fans of how SEVENTEEN rose from nothing with pure persistence and talent.

Hearing another pre-debut stories about SVT made me admire them even more. They really rose from the ground with pure talent, persistence, personality, and determination

every struggle story I hear about svt, it makes me so sad like they were all little kids going through so much all that hard work is paying off, but i wonder what happened to others who did not debut or do not have successful careers

The full interview shows a side of SEVENTEEN’s journey fans rarely hear — a true grind behind their global success.