Korean Actors and Actresses Who Could Have Been Idols

We often hear about Idols turning into Actors and Actresses but what about Actors and Actresses who could have been Idols?

For this article, I included Actors and Actresses who almost debuted as an Idol or have been a Kpop Idol trainee.

Gu Hye Seon is an actress, singer-songwriter, composer and artist. She started gaining popularity online as an Ulzzang (Best Face / Good Looking). She was a trainee under SM Entertainment and then moved to DSP Media to debut under a girl group called Ria but it didn't work out so she moved to YG Entertainment. Gu Hye Seon could have been a member of the girl group 2NE1 (group disbanded in 2016). She was going to debut in a girl group with 2NE1 members Park Bom and Sandara Park / Dara but the founder of YG Entertainment Yang Hyun Suk advised Gu Hye Seon to pursue a career in acting instead of music. Gu Hye Seon is well known for her role in the hit drama Boys Over Flowers.

Yoo In Na is an actress and DJ. She was a trainee for 10 years and was under 5 different agencies throughout her trainee days. She had nearly become a member of a girl group. Yoo had difficulty remembering the dance choreographies and training became too stressful that she decided to quit. In 2006 she signed under YG Entertainment to pursue a career in acting. Yoo In Na gained recognition for her roles in the dramas Queen In Hyun's Man, You Who Came from the Stars, Goblin and Touch Your Heart.

Lee Yeon Hee said in an interview that if she didn't pursue an acting career she would have been a member of Girls Generation. She gained recognition for her role in the film A Millionaire's First Love and has recently been in dramas Reunited Worlds and  The Package.

Go Ah Ra was chosen to be the lead in the teen drama Sharp 1. Due to the drama's success Go Ah Ra decided to pursue an acting career. If she didn't have an acting career she would have been a member of Girls Generation. Go Ah Ra has recently been in the dramas Black, Miss Hammurabi and Haechi.

Gong Seung Yeon, born Yoo Seung Yeon, was a trainee under SM Entertainment for 7 years. She almost became a member of f(x). In an interview, she said she struggled as a trainee and knew that the Idol life wasn't for her. She left SM Entertainment in 2012 to pursue an acting career. Gong has two younger sisters. One of her sisters, Jeongyeon, is a member of Twice under JYP Entertainment. The 3 sisters are known for their natural beauty.  Gong is known for her roles in the dramas Introverted Boss, Circle, My Only Love Song, Meloholic and Are You Human Too?. She's been cast in the drama Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency which will air in September this year.  

Kim Min Jae, also known as "Real.be", is an actor and rapper. He was a trainee under CJ E&M  for four years and almost made his debut as a solo artist but he kept getting cast in dramas which made him decide to focus on acting instead. In 2015, Kim was a contestant on the show Show Me the Money 4. Kim is known for his roles in the dramas Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim, Goblin, Hit the Top and The Great Seducer. Kim was cast in the drama Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency which will air September this year. He will possibly make his solo debut in the future. 

Although Lee Jong Suk made his debut as a runway model at age 16, he later signed under SM Entertainment and trained for 3 months as a rapper for an idol group called 'Real' but then quit after SM Entertainment broke their promise of debuting him as an actor. The group later debuted under a different name which is believed to be SHINee as he left the company during the time SHINee debuted. SHINee's member Minho was supposed to later debut under another group. Lee has starred in many popular dramas. His recent dramas are While You Were Sleeping, The Hymn of Death and  Romance is a Bonus Book.

I hope you guys enjoyed the Article! :)

Did you know your favourite actor or actress could have been an Idol?

Could you see these actors and actresses as Idols?