I remember sitting there, staring at the rejection email for that dream internship, feeling like my whole world had just crumbled. It’s a common human experience, that sting of not making the cut, the moment you realize a path you desperately wanted isn’t going to open for you. In the cutthroat world of K-Pop, this feeling is amplified a thousand times over, as countless hopefuls chase an almost impossibly small number of debut slots. When we look at global sensations like ITZY, it’s easy to assume their journey was a straight shot to stardom, but that’s rarely the full story. So, what company did ITZY audition for but failed?
The straightforward answer, as often happens in life, isn’t a simple one-liner for every member. While ITZY as a group debuted under JYP Entertainment, the individual members each walked unique, often challenging, paths before finding their home. The most prominent examples of members auditioning for other companies or undergoing significant pre-JYP experiences involve Chaeryeong with Fantagio and her appearance on *K-Pop Star 3*, and Lia, who actually passed an audition for SM Entertainment but chose not to join. For the rest of the group – Yeji, Ryujin, and Yuna – their routes to JYP were primarily through scouting or direct auditions that led to their JYP trainee contracts, without widely publicized “failed” auditions at other major labels.
This isn’t just about listing names; it’s about understanding the resilience and diverse trajectories that forge K-Pop idols. It underscores a crucial point: “failure” in one context can often be the very stepping stone to success elsewhere. My own professional journey, filled with unexpected pivots and learning from projects that didn’t quite take off, has taught me that these detours are often where the most significant growth happens.
The Grueling Gauntlet of K-Pop Auditions: A Rite of Passage
Before diving into the specifics of ITZY, it’s vital to grasp the intensity of the K-Pop audition landscape. It’s not just a try-out; it’s an elimination process designed to sift through millions for the rare gems. Think of it like the MLB Draft, but with a global talent pool and a much wider array of skills – singing, dancing, rapping, visual appeal, and even personality – all under intense scrutiny. Trainees spend years, sometimes nearly a decade, honing their craft, often starting as young as middle schoolers. They sacrifice normal childhoods, pouring every ounce of their being into a dream that might never materialize. Auditions can be:
- Open Public Auditions: Thousands show up, waiting for hours for a minute or two to impress.
- Private Company Auditions: Often held through schools or academies, or after initial online submissions.
- Street Casting/Scouting: Talented individuals are approached directly by agency representatives in public places.
- Survival Shows: Programs like *K-Pop Star*, *Produce 101*, or JYP’s own *SIXTEEN* (which Chaeryeong also participated in) are televised auditions where contestants are eliminated week by week.
Each rejection can feel like a personal condemnation, yet it’s part of the journey. What we often see as an “overnight success” is actually the culmination of years of unseen effort, numerous setbacks, and relentless determination. The stories of ITZY’s members perfectly illustrate this.
Chaeryeong’s Odyssey: From Fantagio to *K-Pop Star 3* and Beyond
Among the ITZY members, Lee Chaeryeong’s pre-debut journey is arguably the most publicly documented and directly addresses the idea of auditioning for other companies. Her path was one of consistent effort, public exposure, and moving between agencies before finally settling at JYP. It’s a testament to her unyielding passion for performance.
Early Days at Fantagio
Before her time at JYP Entertainment, Chaeryeong, along with her older sister Lee Chaeyeon (who later debuted with IZ*ONE), was a trainee at Fantagio Entertainment. Fantagio is a well-known South Korean entertainment company, home to groups like ASTRO and Weki Meki. While their time there wasn’t extensively publicized, it represents an early stage in their pursuit of a K-Pop career. They trained there for a period, immersing themselves in the rigorous routine of dance and vocal lessons. This experience, though not leading to a debut under Fantagio, provided them with foundational training and an initial glimpse into the demands of the industry. It’s like a minor league baseball player getting experience with a different farm team before being picked up by a major league organization. These early training periods, even if short-lived, are invaluable for budding artists.
The Spotlight of *K-Pop Star 3*
The sisters then made a significant splash on the popular survival reality competition show, *K-Pop Star 3*, which aired from 2013 to 2014. This show was a massive platform, judged by the heads of the “Big 3” entertainment companies at the time: Yang Hyun-suk (YG), Park Jin-young (JYP), and Yoo Hee-yeol (Antenna Music). Their appearance on *K-Pop Star 3* brought Chaeryeong and Chaeyeon considerable public attention for their undeniable talent, especially their dancing. They showcased their skills and charisma to a national audience, undergoing intense evaluations and receiving direct feedback from industry titans. This kind of direct exposure to criticism from the very top brass is incredibly rare and formative. While they didn’t win the competition, their performances undoubtedly caught the eyes of the judges, particularly JYP’s Park Jin-young.
My take? Competing on such a show is like a high-stakes job interview played out in front of millions. Every mistake, every triumph, is scrutinized. For someone so young, it builds an incredible amount of resilience. It’s an experience that can either make you crumble or forge you into something stronger. For Chaeryeong, it clearly did the latter.
Transition to JYP and *SIXTEEN*
Following *K-Pop Star 3*, both Chaeryeong and Chaeyeon were recruited by JYP Entertainment. This move highlights how public exposure, even if it doesn’t lead to winning a competition, can open doors. Once at JYP, Chaeryeong’s journey continued on another survival show, *SIXTEEN*, in 2015. This program was designed to select the members of JYP’s next girl group, which ultimately became TWICE. Chaeryeong competed fiercely but was eliminated in the latter half of the show, not making the final lineup for TWICE. This was a clear instance of “failing” to secure a debut with a specific group, despite being under the same company.
However, her participation in *SIXTEEN* was far from a setback. It further honed her skills, built her fanbase, and gave her invaluable experience performing under pressure. It allowed JYP to see her potential over an extended period. This experience demonstrates that sometimes, not making the cut for one opportunity simply means you’re being prepared for an even better one. It’s a powerful lesson in delayed gratification and trusting the process.
Lia’s Crossroads: The SM Entertainment Connection
Choi Jisu, known as Lia, has a pre-debut story that’s particularly intriguing because it doesn’t involve a “failure” in the traditional sense, but rather a deliberate choice not to pursue a path after a successful audition. Lia’s story shines a light on the complex decision-making processes that often occur behind the scenes for aspiring idols and their families.
Passing the SM Audition: A Road Not Taken
It is widely known and confirmed that Lia successfully auditioned for SM Entertainment, one of the “Big 3” K-Pop agencies and a powerhouse known for groups like Girls’ Generation, EXO, and aespa. She passed the audition and was offered a trainee contract. This is a monumental achievement, as SM’s auditions are notoriously competitive, with thousands vying for a handful of spots each year. To pass an SM audition is to be recognized as having significant potential, a blend of vocal talent, visual appeal, and stage presence that the agency believes can be cultivated into a star.
However, Lia ultimately did not join SM Entertainment as a trainee. The reason, as she and her family have shared, was largely due to her parents’ wishes at the time. They wanted her to prioritize her studies and focus on her education before fully committing to the demanding and uncertain life of a K-Pop trainee. This isn’t a story of rejection, but rather one of parental guidance and a carefully considered decision to put education first, a sentiment many families in America can relate to.
For me, this highlights a significant, often overlooked, aspect of the K-Pop industry: the human element. These are not just performers; they are young individuals with families, dreams, and real-life choices to make. The pressure to choose between a conventional path and an unconventional, high-risk, high-reward one is immense. Lia’s parents, from what’s been reported, made a decision they felt was best for their daughter’s long-term well-being, even if it meant turning down an offer from an industry giant.
The Detour to JYP
Years later, Lia revisited her K-Pop dreams, and her path eventually led her to JYP Entertainment. Her exceptional vocal talent, honed through her educational pursuits and likely continued personal practice, was once again recognized. This time, she committed fully, joining JYP as a trainee and ultimately debuting as ITZY’s main vocalist. Her initial decision to prioritize education didn’t extinguish her dream; it simply delayed it and arguably allowed her to approach her second chance with greater maturity and conviction.
This narrative is a powerful example of how “failure to join” or “turning down an offer” can be a form of self-preservation or a strategic pause, rather than an inability to succeed. It’s a testament to her talent that she was able to garner interest from top agencies not once, but twice, across different periods of her life.
The Paths Less Traveled: Yeji, Ryujin, and Yuna’s Pre-JYP Stories
While Chaeryeong and Lia have well-documented pre-JYP experiences involving other companies or major public platforms, the other members – Yeji, Ryujin, and Yuna – largely found their way to JYP through direct recruitment or more conventional audition processes that didn’t involve widely publicized “failures” at other major labels.
Yeji: The Referred Talent
Hwang Yeji’s journey to JYP was reportedly through a referral. She joined JYP Entertainment in 2016. While she later gained significant attention for her appearance on the SBS reality competition show *The Fan* in 2018, where she received praise from judges like JYP’s Park Jin-young and BoA, her initial entry into JYP wasn’t preceded by known failed auditions at other major companies. Her presence on *The Fan* further showcased her undeniable skills to a broader audience, solidifying her potential as a future idol.
Ryujin: The Fan Meeting Discovery
Shin Ryujin’s story is a classic K-Pop scouting tale. She was scouted by a JYP Entertainment representative at a GOT7 fan meeting. This method of recruitment, where agencies actively seek out visually appealing and charismatic individuals in public places, is quite common in the industry. Her natural charm and aura were enough to catch the eye of a scout, leading to her joining JYP in 2015. Prior to this, there are no public records of her having extensively auditioned for other major companies and failing.
Yuna: Another Street Casting Success
Shin Yuna also joined JYP Entertainment through street casting. She was reportedly scouted by a JYP representative at a K-Pop festival in 2015. Similar to Ryujin, her striking visuals and youthful charm attracted the attention of an agency scout. She became a trainee at JYP, and like her future bandmates, embarked on the rigorous training journey without public records of having been rejected by other prominent entertainment companies.
These varied recruitment methods highlight that there isn’t one singular path to becoming a K-Pop idol. Some endure public competitions, others are scouted directly, and some, like Lia, take a more circuitous route. It’s a dynamic and unpredictable environment where talent can be found in the most unexpected places.
Lessons from the Journey: Rejection as Redirection
Looking at the collective journey of ITZY’s members, it becomes abundantly clear that the concept of “failure” is often a misnomer in the grand scheme of a career. For Chaeryeong, not making the cut for TWICE or not debuting with Fantagio wasn’t a failure, but a redirection. For Lia, passing an SM audition but choosing not to proceed wasn’t a failure to secure a spot, but an informed life decision. These experiences are not dead ends; they are crucial plot twists in their narratives, shaping who they became.
From my perspective, both professionally and personally, every setback has been a setup for a comeback. Every door that closed forced me to re-evaluate, refine my approach, and often, discover a better fit. In the K-Pop industry, this is particularly true. The skills gained from training at one company, the feedback received from judges on a survival show, or the sheer resilience built from countless auditions, all contribute to the artist’s eventual success. It’s the accumulation of these diverse experiences that makes an artist well-rounded and ready for the global stage.
Checklist for Aspiring K-Pop Idols (and anyone facing a “failed” audition/opportunity):
- Embrace Every Experience: See every audition, every training period, even those that don’t lead to debut, as a learning opportunity.
- Gather Feedback: Actively seek out constructive criticism and apply it to improve your craft.
- Build Resilience: The K-Pop journey is long and arduous; mental toughness is key.
- Network (within limits): Connections made during training or shows can lead to future opportunities.
- Maintain Your Passion: The dream needs to be strong enough to weather the storms of rejection and uncertainty.
- Know Your Value: Understand what makes you unique and confidently present that.
- Consider All Paths: Sometimes the direct route isn’t the best one. Be open to detours and alternative agencies.
The Power of Persistence and the Right Fit
Ultimately, ITZY’s story isn’t just about individual members’ paths, but about how they all converged at JYP Entertainment. This highlights the importance of finding the “right fit” – an agency whose vision, training style, and group concept align with an artist’s strengths and aspirations. JYP Entertainment, known for its emphasis on “talent and personality,” provided an environment where each ITZY member could flourish.
For Lia, her powerful vocals and unique tone found a perfect home, especially in ITZY’s confident and self-love-themed music. For Chaeryeong, her exceptional dancing and expressive performance style, honed through years of diverse training and public performance, became a core part of ITZY’s powerful stage presence. Yeji’s charisma, Ryujin’s “girl crush” vibe, and Yuna’s vibrant energy all coalesced to create a group that debuted with a distinct identity and quickly soared to international fame. Had any of them debuted under a different company or group concept, their individual strengths might not have been utilized in the same compelling way.
This synergy is what turns individual talents into a powerhouse group. It’s a testament to JYP’s A&R (Artists and Repertoire) team for recognizing the potential in these five young women and molding them into the ITZY we know today, a group that champions self-acceptance and individuality.
Frequently Asked Questions About ITZY’s Pre-Debut Journeys
Did ITZY members fail *many* auditions before joining JYP?
The narrative of “failing many auditions” isn’t entirely accurate for all ITZY members. While the K-Pop industry is incredibly competitive, and every aspiring idol faces numerous rejections, the specific circumstances for ITZY members vary significantly. As detailed, Chaeryeong had the most publicly documented pre-JYP experiences, including training at Fantagio and competing on *K-Pop Star 3* and *SIXTEEN*. These weren’t necessarily “failures” but rather stepping stones or instances where she didn’t make the final cut for a specific project, like TWICE.
Lia’s situation was unique because she *passed* an SM Entertainment audition but chose not to join at the time due to parental wishes to prioritize her education. This wasn’t a failure on her part to secure an offer. Yeji, Ryujin, and Yuna were largely scouted or passed direct JYP auditions without widely publicized prior “failed” auditions at other major companies. So, while the journey was undoubtedly tough, it wasn’t a case of widespread, consistent failures for all of them, but rather diverse and often deliberate choices or redirections.
How common are such pre-debut experiences (auditions, switching companies) in the K-Pop industry?
Pre-debut experiences like auditioning for multiple companies, training at different agencies, and participating in survival shows are incredibly common, almost a standard rite of passage in the K-Pop industry. Many idols you see today have had similar, if not more extensive, journeys. It’s rare for an idol to only ever train at one company and debut immediately. The competition is so fierce that agencies often share a pool of talented individuals who might train at one place for a year or two, then move to another, seeking the best opportunity for debut. Survival shows, in particular, serve as public auditions that allow trainees from various companies (or even independent ones) to showcase their skills, leading to potential recruitment by other agencies or even a debut. These experiences provide invaluable training, exposure, and resilience, shaping them into the polished performers they eventually become.
What distinguishes JYP’s recruitment and training process from other major companies?
JYP Entertainment, often considered one of the “Big 3” alongside SM and YG, has a distinctive approach to recruitment and training. While all major companies seek talent, JYP often emphasizes not just skill but also “personality” (인성, in-sung) and character. Park Jin-young, the founder, has frequently spoken about the importance of trainees having good values and a strong moral compass, alongside their artistic abilities. This emphasis often translates into a training environment that fosters a strong sense of teamwork and mutual respect. Recruitment-wise, JYP employs a mix of public auditions (like their annual ‘JYP Audition’), street casting (as seen with Ryujin and Yuna), and scouting through various industry channels or even referrals. Their survival shows (*SIXTEEN*, *Stray Kids*, *LOUD*) also serve as powerful tools for identifying and developing talent, allowing them to thoroughly evaluate potential idols under real-time pressure, often focusing on a holistic view of the artist rather than just one specific talent.
How do artists cope with audition rejections or not making the cut for a group?
Coping with audition rejections or not making the cut is undoubtedly one of the hardest parts of the K-Pop trainee journey. Artists often deal with this through a combination of sheer determination, self-reflection, and support systems. Many will view rejections not as personal failures but as learning opportunities, analyzing feedback to improve their skills and stage presence. They might switch training focus, seek out different agencies, or simply redouble their efforts in their current training. Strong mental resilience is paramount, often built through years of facing similar setbacks. Additionally, having a supportive family, fellow trainees, or mentors who understand the pressure can be crucial. Ultimately, the unwavering passion for performing and the dream of debuting often serve as the primary motivators that push them through moments of disappointment, helping them to persevere until they find the right opportunity, much like ITZY’s members did.
Was it a “failure” for Lia not joining SM Entertainment after passing the audition?
No, it would be incorrect to label Lia’s decision not to join SM Entertainment after passing their audition as a “failure.” In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Passing an SM audition is a significant accomplishment that validates an individual’s talent and potential. Her choice to decline the offer was a deliberate and considered decision, influenced by her parents’ desire for her to prioritize her education at that particular stage of her life. This highlights a mature understanding that a K-Pop career is incredibly demanding and often requires immense sacrifice, sometimes at the expense of other crucial developmental stages. Her ability to later join JYP Entertainment and debut successfully with ITZY further demonstrates that her initial decision was a strategic pause, not an inability to succeed. It was a redirection of her path, allowing her to mature and ultimately pursue her dream with full conviction at a different time and with a different company that proved to be the perfect fit for her unique artistry.