BTS’s Response to The Trainees Who Were Left Behind for The Group

BTS’s label BIGHIT MUSIC started bankrupt, cutting all trainees to save BTS’s debut

BTS’s agency, BIGHIT MUSIC, was broke before BTS blew up.

The company had no money left and had to drop every trainee except the future BTS members to funnel resources into BTS’s debut.

Two trainees, Kim Jihoon and Hwang Jihwan, were among those who got cut.

Kim Jihoon and Hwang Jihwan talked about their experience on Korea Now. Kim said BIGHIT was firing trainees almost every week at that time. He wasn’t surprised to be cut.

“When the company informed me that I would be sent back home, BIGHIT was actually in the process of letting go of trainees almost every week.”

Kim also dropped this about Jungkook:

“After witnessing his genius, I realized I wouldn’t be able to achieve that level of skill.”

This made it easier for Kim to accept BIGHIT’s decision.

Hwang said BIGHIT mainly trained his vocals. He thinks he was probably meant for a different group, not BTS.

When BTS debuted, BIGHIT focused all resources on BTS—so Hwang had to leave.

Kim revealed BTS member RM found out he was leaving before anyone else did.

“RM was upset at the news of my departure, given that he had said goodbye to many trainee friends during that period. Since he and I were close friends, it was even more painful.”

Hwang said his trainee friends comforted him after the news, which probably included some BTS members.

Both trainees are doing well now. Hwang works as a vocal trainer at top institutes. Kim is a fitness trainer.

BTS really built their agency from nothing.