Few would have guessed that, before becoming one of aespa's prominent members, Winter went through a very difficult journey to join SM Entertainment.
In the online program Salon Drip 2 , the singer shared for the first time details about the numerous rejections she faced before officially becoming a trainee at the management company she had always dreamed of joining.
Three failures before reaching the dream.
Winter revealed that she signed with SM Entertainment in 2017 and spent about three and a half years as a trainee before debuting with aespa in 2020. However, to get that opportunity, the singer had to go through three auditions.
The first time, it was Winter's brother who caught SM Entertainment's attention, not her. The second time, Winter was selected after a dance festival for her outstanding performance, which surpassed her brother's, but she ultimately failed to pass the audition.
For the third time, she participated in SM's global audition in Busan but was once again not selected.
I almost missed the opportunity because I was waiting for SM Entertainment.
After three failed attempts, Winter began to receive attention from several other entertainment companies. However, instead of signing a contract immediately, she still harbored the hope of joining SM Entertainment.
Karina (left) and Winter - Screenshot from JTBC.
The singer recounted that upon receiving offers from other companies, she proactively informed SM's representatives that she was considering them. That moment marked a turning point in her journey to pursue her dreams.
Shortly after, Winter officially received an offer to join SM Entertainment and began her training period before debuting with aespa.
From intern to aespa member
Winter debuted with aespa in November 2020 with the single "Black Mamba" . Since then, the group has consistently made their mark with songs like "Next Level ", "Savage ", "Drama" , "Supernova" , "Armageddon" , and most recently "Lemonade" , becoming one of the prominent girl groups of the new generation of K-pop.
Winter's story quickly garnered attention from fans. Many commented that the singer's journey of repeated rejections but unwavering pursuit of her goals is proof that success sometimes comes after numerous failures.
Winter's sharing also revealed a different perspective on SM Entertainment's rigorous selection process, where many artists had to go through multiple trials before having the opportunity to become trainees and officially debut.