[SBS Star] I Never Shared This Anywhere Before MINNIE Shares Her Journey of Nearly Joining SM Ent.

K-pop girl group (G)I-DLE's Thai member MINNIE recounted the time she nearly joined SM Entertainment. On January 22, the 24th episode of Hyoyeon of girl group Girls' Generation's YouTube show Hyoyeon's Level Up was released, featuring MINNIE as a guest. During their conversation, Hyoyeon asked, Tell me an interesting story, to which MINNIE replied, I've never shared this anywhere before, and revealed, Before auditioning for Cube Entertainment, I actually auditioned for SM Entertainment. As soon as Hyoyeon heard this, her jaw fell open in astonishment and exclaimed, Really? MINNIE responded, Yeah, I was a sophomore in high school at the time. I was a fan of Super Junior, and SM Entertainment happened to hold a global audition in Thailand. A friend of mine wanted to go. So, I went with her. MINNIE added, I even took my profile photos with SM Entertainment, to which Hyoyeon responded in amazement, That meant you almost made it through! However, MINNIE explained, After taking my profile pictures, SM Entertainment told me, 'We'll reach out to you.' Around the same time, I auditioned for Cube Entertainment, and they accepted me immediately. About a week or two later, they sent me a plane ticket and asked me to come to Korea, telling why she ultimately chose Cube Entertainment over SM Entertainment. Hyoyeon then mentioned, When JIHYO of TWICE was on this show, she told me about her connection with SM Entertainment as well. She actually got into SM Entertainment and trained briefly with us. Ah, it's ashame you didn't join SM Entertainment! You and I could've ended up under the same agency! In response, MINNIE said, But you know, there were many times I wondered, 'Could I have really made it into SM Entertainment? Even if I did, would I have debuted?' I thought about that, A LOT. In the end, I guess it just wasn't meant to be, reflecting on the situation. (Credit= '효연의 레벨업 Hyo's Level Up' YouTube) (SBS Star)

[영상] 평생 갔으면 좋겠다 …서른 살 된 SM, H.O.T부터 라이즈까지 '총출동'

SM엔터테인먼트 창립 30주년을 맞아 지난 11일~12일 서울 고척스카이돔에서 'SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE ] in SEOUL' 콘서트가 열렸습니다. 'K팝 원조' SM의 30주년 무대라 공연 전부터 팬들은 기대가 가득했는데요. 중국에서 온 한 팬은 30주년은 중요한 기념일이다. 덕질하는 것이 제 청춘의 일부가 된 것 같다, 그래서 꼭 한 번 보러 와야 된다고 생각했다 말했습니다. 미국에서 온 팬도 정말 신나고 설렌다. 다들 행복해 보이고, 모두가 즐거운 시간을 보낼 것 같다 기대감을 드러냈습니다. 30년 SM의 역사를 증명하듯 H.O.T(강타)부터 보아, 동방신기, 슈퍼주니어, 효연 (소녀시대), 샤이니, EXO, 레드벨벳, 에스파, NCT 127, 라이즈 등 총 98명이 무대에 올랐습니다. 각 그룹의 개성을 담아 리메이크한 무대는 시간 여행을 떠나는 듯한 추억과 감동을 선사했는데요. 강타는 S.E.S 'Just a feeling', 슈퍼주니어는 신화 'I Pray 4 U', 라이즈는 동방신기 'Hug'를 불렀습니다. H.O.T(강타)부터 라이즈까지 총출동한 SM엔터테인먼트 30주년 콘서트 무대, 현장영상에 담아봤습니다. (구성: 이미선 / 편집: 김주형 / 디자인: 이희문 / 영상 제공 : SM엔터테인먼트 / 제작: 디지털뉴스편집부)

[SBS Star] Hyoyeon Mentions the Time When Yoona Made All SM Ent. Hoobaes Feel Uncomfortable

Hyoyeon of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation recalled the time when the group's member Yoona unintentionally made all SM Entertainment hoobae artists feel uncomfortable. On December 25, Yoona guested on Hyoyeon's YouTube show Hyo's Level Up. While talking, Hyoyeon said, The end of the year is coming up soon. On the night of the 31st, I always watch the 'MBC Gayo Daejejeon.' It's because you're the host, and you do the countdown and everything. It's really great. She added, Last year at the 'MBC Gayo Daejejeon,' didn't you and SM Entertainment hoobae artists take a group photo? I watched the behind-the-scenes video, and it showed that you were the one who suggested that. And when you suggested it, your manager was like, 'If it's you suggesting taking a group photo, who could possibly say no?' I checked out the photo, and every one of them showed up to take it. Yoona responded, When I was looking at the photo after taking it, I realized I was actually the most sunbae there. They were saying things like, 'If a sunbae suggests it, of course everyone will take the photo. Who wouldn't?' And I couldn't argue because it was true―I was the most sunbae. You know, when I went out to take the photo, and everyone else was already there. Hyoyeon commented, The hoobaes must have felt a little uncomfortable. Yoona replied, I don't feel uncomfortable with them, but they might have felt that way. I guess it's because we haven't met many times before. Hyoyeon said, When I see our agency hoobaes though, I can't stop smiling. They're just too cute. They're so handsome that I feel proud. Then she paused and said, Wait, is it weird to say I feel proud because they're so handsome? To this, Yoona laughed and said, Your true feelings just came out. Yoona added, Even if I've never met them in person, seeing them on TV so often makes them feel familiar, so I can't help but happily greet them with, 'Hi!' when I see them. Hyoyeon nodded in agreement, saying, I've done that too. (Credit= '효연의 레벨업 Hyo's Level Up' YouTube) (SBS Star)

[SBS Star] Girls' Generation Yoona Talks About How the Members Disappointed Her Around Her Birthday

Yoona of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation shared a story about how her fellow group members disappointed her around her birthday. On December 18, Hyoyeon of Girls' Generation posted a new episode of her YouTube show 'Hyo's Level Up', featuring Yoona as a guest. By appearing in this episode, Yoona became the third member of Girls' Generation to guest on Hyoyeon's channel following Sooyoung and Taeyeon's appearance. After Sooyoung's episode was released, Yoona asked me, 'Why didn't you invite me first? Why Sooyoung unnie was the first?'. , Hyoyeon recounted and laughed. I'm happy being the third now. , Yoona added. Have you gone for a meal with any other members recently? , Hyoyeon asked, indirectly referring to the day when just four of the members―Yoona, Sooyoung, Tiffany Young, and Yuri―got together to celebrate Yoona's birthday. When Sooyoung guested on her show, Hyoyeon mentioned this gathering and expressed disappointment about not being invited. I hoped to have a chance to talk about it after watching the episode Sooyoung unnie was on. , Yoona shared with Hyoyeon before explaining what happened. My birthday was coming, so I asked on the Girls' Generation group chat, 'Guys, would you like to get together for a meal to celebrate my birthday with me?'. And I gave some dates to choose from. But all the members said they couldn't make it. Everyone turned me down. I was sad and disappointed, to be honest. I said, 'Okay, maybe I'll reschedule the date. Let's meet soon.', and ended the conversation. , Yoona remembered. Yoona resumed, Back when it was Sooyoung unnie's birthday, some other members and I got together and went to a barbecue restaurant. The place was fantastic. We were like, we should come here again when we have a chance. Later, I'm not sure if it was Sooyoung unnie or Tiffany Young unnie, but one of them asked me when I'd be available for a meal. We went to that barbecue restaurant again, and I thought the unnies took me there to buy me a meal. But then, one thing led to another, and the gathering became like my birthday party! It was unexpected. As it became more and more like my birthday party, I thought it would have been better if all the other members were here with us. , Yoona explained. Okay, I was pretending to be upset about not being invited that day, but I just can't. I'm just grateful to those members who celebrated you when I couldn't. , Hyoyeon said, expressing how sorry she was that she was unable to celebrate Yoona's birthday in person. Take me out on a meal, then! , Yoona playfully said; Hyoyeon replied, Of course, I will. (Credit= '효연의 레벨업 Hyo's Level Up') (SBS Star)

[SBS Star] VIDEO: YeSung Clarifies Rumors that He Hit HeeChul During a Fight

K-pop boy group Super Junior's member YeSung clarified rumors about a fight with his fellow group member HeeChul. On November 13, Hyoyeon of girl group Girls' Generation released an interview video featuring YeSung on her YouTube channel Hyoyeon's Level Up. In the video, Hyoyeon mentioned, From what I've seen, Super Junior members often talk about fighting with each other, and added, But I get it, stories about fights are the most interesting. Hyoyeon then asked YeSung if he had ever hit HeeChul, as she had heard about it before. Earlier, on JTBC's television show Knowing Bros, Hyoyeon mentioned a conflict between YeSung and HeeChul, during which YeSung allegedly hit HeeChul. YeSung responded in surprise, How do you know about that anyway? No one else knows about it except for us, and clarified, But no. I didn't hit him or anything like that, and I never thought about hitting him. He then admitted, I did cry, though, and shared, I really wanted us to perform happily together, but I was really upset since that wasn't going to happen. At the time of the incident, Super Junior was on a South American concert tour, and YeSung explained that the disagreement was about changes to the performance details. Hyoyeon, who is also part of a large group empathized, saying, It's hard for everyone in a large group to have the same mindset. YeSung continued, Yeah. After our argument, I was in the restroom, feeling upset by myself, and HeeChul came in. We hugged each other while crying and managed to resolve things. (Credit= '효연의 레벨업 Hyo's Level Up' YouTube, 'yesung1106' Instagram) (SBS Star)