The casting stories of SM Entertainment stars like aespa’s Karina, RIIZE’s Wonbin, and NCT WISH’s Sion are now out, and they’re all pretty wild!

On February 1st, the second part of SBS’s K-POP The Beginning: SMTOWN 30 aired, shedding light on SM’s casting system—from the 90s street casting days to today’s high-tech methods.

Fans were shocked to learn how some of their favorite idols got discovered in the most unexpected places!

The head of SM's Artist Development Center shared how dedicated the team is, saying, "We go everywhere teenagers might be—schools, academies, and even social media! We’re everywhere." This is how Karina, Wonbin, and Sion got their big breaks.

Karina revealed that she was first contacted by SM through an Instagram DM when she was in middle school and again in high school.

Zion shared his story too, saying, "I made an Instagram, and SM saw it and DM’d me." But it was Wonbin’s story that really stood out!

Wonbin confessed, "I was lying in bed after school when I got a DM saying it was from SM. I thought it was a scam, but I decided to go to the audition just in case."

The head of the Artist Development Center shared more, saying, "When we first saw Wonbin’s video, they told us he was from Ulsan. I told them, ‘Pick him up at Seoul Station.’ Normally, we don’t do this, but we made an exception and had him brought in."

Looks like you never know when the next big star could be discovered—even while lying in bed!

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Lee Jun Ho has officially ended his long-time journey with JYP Entertainment after 17 years.

On March 20, JYP Entertainment made an official announcement stating, "The exclusive contract between JYP Entertainment and artist Lee Jun Ho will conclude on April 15."

JYP further expressed, "Since debuting as a member of 2PM in 2008, Lee Jun Ho has shown incredible dedication to both his music and acting careers. Thanks to a strong relationship built on trust, we have renewed our contract multiple times over the years. We sincerely thank him for being a part of JYP’s growth and journey."

Lee Jun Ho also shared his thoughts through the agency, saying, "I sincerely appreciate the unwavering support I’ve received over the past 17 years. I will cherish the relationships and encouragement that have been built over this long time as I move forward."

JYP Entertainment also confirmed that while his exclusive contract is ending, they will still support his activities in Japan and assist with any future collaborations if needed.

This news has left fans wondering about Junho’s next steps. With his immense success as an actor, especially after the hit drama King the Land, many are speculating that he may join a new agency focusing on his acting career.

Meanwhile, Junho’s fans have been flooding social media with messages of support, thanking him for his time with JYP and expressing excitement for his future endeavors.

As one of the most successful idol-turned-actors, all eyes are on what Lee Jun Ho will do next!

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