aespa’s Ningning Reveals How Countless Auditions Led to Joining SM Entertainment and Moving to Korea Alone at 14
NingNing appeared on the YouTube channel 117’s segment Minatozaki Sana’s Fridge Interview. During the interview, she revealed that she participated in numerous audition programs as a child. “I loved singing since I was young, so I joined them as a hobby,” she said.
When Sana remarked, “You must’ve been comfortable performing in front of people,” NingNing responded, “I think I was more like that when I was younger. I was kind of shameless.”
NingNing mentioned she participated in so many auditions that she lost count, which eventually led to SM Entertainment contacting her. “Thanks to that, I got a call from SM,” she recalled. “I went with my mom, stayed for a week, signed a contract, and became a trainee.” When Sana asked, “Wasn’t your mom sad?” NingNing replied, “She was sad. Before coming to Korea, I had never gone anywhere alone. I never even rode an elevator by myself. My grandmother took care of me.”
She explained that moving to a foreign country alone at 14 was a life-changing decision. “Living alone in a foreign country completely changed my life. It was tough at first, but I’m okay now,” she said.
After about four years of training, NingNing debuted with aespa. She noted that her trainee concept was different from aespa‘s current style. “It was consistently a pure, innocent vibe—white t-shirt and jeans or a white dress,” she said. “That was the image they had of me, but then one day, they suddenly asked me to rap and take worldview classes.” Regarding aespa‘s distinctive worldview, she added, “Now I love it. It feels good to be part of something special.”
On a lighter note, NingNing, known for frequently losing her earphones, admitted, “I’ve given up now. I even left wired earphones at a shoot.” When asked how she loses them, she laughed, “I really don’t know. They just disappear entirely. Last year, I only lost them twice, so I think I’ve improved a lot,” bringing laughter to the conversation.
Fans on X have praised NingNing‘s candidness in the Sana’s Fridge Interview, with many relating to her humorous admission of losing earphones. Clips of her discussing her trainee days have trended, emphasizing her relatability and charm.
NingNing was a standout member of the SM Rookies lineup, with her childhood images widely recognized by the public. Now, she has grown up to become even more beautiful, along with her singing talent that is loved by many.