The tumultuous pre-debut journey of Kyuhyun (규현), a member of K-pop boy group Super Junior, has come to light. He recently revealed that he was scouted by SM Entertainment (SM엔터테인먼트) but rejected the offer on the spot, as he had no intention of becoming an idol at the time. Furthermore, he had signed a contract with singer Park Seon-ju (박선주), believing he would debut as a ballad singer, only for those plans to unexpectedly change. Ultimately, Kyuhyun personally called SM Entertainment to secure an opportunity to join the company, a decision he still considers incredibly fortunate.
The YouTube channel "DdeunDdeun" (뜬뜬) released its latest episode of "Second-Generation Idols Are Just an Excuse" on October 24, featuring TVXQ's Max Changmin (최강창민), Super Junior's Kyuhyun, and SHINee's Minho (민호) sharing their entertainment industry anecdotes. During the show, Kyuhyun recounted his process of joining SM Entertainment, unexpectedly revealing a story of how he almost missed his chance with the company.
Kyuhyun disclosed that he was scouted near his high school and successfully passed an audition. However, the agency demanded 100 million Korean won, leading him to decline the opportunity.
Later, while participating in an SM Entertainment song festival, Kyuhyun received another offer from the company. However, at the time, he had no intention of becoming an idol singer, so he rejected them once more. Recalling his mindset then, he admitted, "I didn't know anything back then, so I just said I wouldn't go to an idol company's audition."
Beyond SM Entertainment, Kyuhyun also caught the attention of other music industry veterans. He explained that after winning the gold prize in the "2005 Buddy Buddy Contest," singer Park Seon-ju invited him, hoping to cultivate him as a singer. The two even went on to sign a contract.
At the time, Kyuhyun believed he would debut as a ballad singer. However, Park Seon-ju later became busy releasing songs like "Man and Woman," and they gradually lost contact. He also revealed that a clause in their contract stipulated that if both parties did not actively engage in activities within a certain period, the contract would become void.
Seeing his original debut plans stall, Kyuhyun ultimately decided to contact SM Entertainment again. About a month after his previous rejection, he bravely asked, "Do you still want to sign me?" To his surprise, the company replied, "Then come on over!" giving him a renewed opportunity.
Kyuhyun then went to SM Entertainment, where he coincidentally encountered the company's year-end evaluations. He seized the chance to sing on the spot, showcasing his vocal abilities. He revealed that trainees from Girls' Generation (소녀시대) and SHINee (샤이니) were also present, and he had to be evaluated in front of everyone, making him incredibly nervous.
Recalling his feelings at the time, Kyuhyun admitted he was determined to "grab onto even the last straw" and gave his all during the evaluation. After a series of twists and turns, he successfully joined SM Entertainment, laying the foundation for his future as a member of Super Junior.
Looking back on this experience now, Kyuhyun reflects, "Thinking about it now, it was truly incredibly fortunate, and a stroke of genius decision." From initially rejecting offers to personally calling to secure an opportunity, his debut story illustrates that sometimes in life, all it takes is the courage to seize a second chance.
