Almost Became S.E.S. Member “The Singer Who Was Personally Cast by Lee Soo-man at Her Home”
She later gained further popularity by balancing work as both a singer and an actress. However, she was once on the verge of becoming a member of S.E.S., one of the most beloved first-generation Korean girl groups.
“I Won’t Let Go of Either My Studies or My Career”
Soy spent much of her childhood moving from place to place due to her diplomat father’s career. Reflecting on her youth, she shared, “Not having a set place made me feel lonely, and I always seemed ready to leave. Music was the only thing that comforted me in those times.”
Her entry into the entertainment industry happened by a series of coincidences. As a passionate fan of music, she frequently went to department stores just to watch MTV. One day, her mother suggested she try out for MTV Korea’s VJ selection contest.
Taking her mother’s advice, she entered the contest and, in 1994, had a chance to briefly perform on a music broadcast, fulfilling her dream of standing on stage. However, her broadcasting activities were cut short when her father was assigned to the U.S., forcing her to relocate to Los Angeles.
While in the U.S., she experienced an unexpected visit. SM Entertainment’s founder Lee Soo-man and producer Yoo Young-jin traveled to Soy’s home in Los Angeles to meet her older sister, who had appeared on “Starry Night Show”.
However, her sister was too shy to meet them and avoided the meeting, leaving Soy to catch Lee Soo-man’s attention instead. Recognizing her talent, Lee Soo-man intended to cast Soy as a member of an international girl group he was planning, though S.E.S.’s name had not yet been decided.
Soy took part in the initial preparations for S.E.S. due to her curiosity about music, but her studies remained her priority. She recalled, “I didn’t initially plan to debut as a singer. I was just interested, but trying to balance it with preparing for college was harder than I expected.”
After a month of training, she decided to prioritize her education and gave up her trainee life, later entering Korea University to study Chinese Language and Literature. However, she returned to entertainment when she passed an audition for the girl group T.T.Ma.
Two years later, she voluntarily left the group, feeling the public image did not align with her true self. Soy later formed “Raspberry Field” in 2007 and released a new song in June.
Source: Daum