KARA’s Youngji compares the intern’s “Horror Stories” to former DSP media artist ONESTAR

KARA‘S Hur Youngji On September 12th, she officially made her solo debut and released her first single album TOI Toi Toi.

To celebrate her solo debut, she sat down with Ex A’ST1 Member and current soloist A STAR (aka Lim Hanbyul) to discuss Youngji’s recent promotions and her trainee days.

An idol’s training days are often full of trials and tribulations, as aspiring singers face long hours, busy schedules, and often cramped quarters as they prepare for the opportunity to become the next top global K-pop star.

A’ST1 was a multinational group under DSP Media that debuted in 2008 and disbanded a year later. As Youngji is currently managed by DSP Media, the two artists compared their experiences as interns and revealed the harsh conditions they faced before their debut.

Youngji joined KARA in 2014, seven years into the group’s career. Because of this, she was unable to visit DSP Media’s old company building in Cheongdam and was informed about the experience by ONESTAR.

ONESTAR revealed that it had to clean the Cheongdam building’s practice rooms, which were filled with mold that could not be removed.

Youngji added that today’s trainees no longer clean practice rooms, and she believes that this task has been completed with her generation, revealing that she also cleaned practice rooms as a trainee.

ONESTAR continued, saying he was even asked to carry a full water cooler refill container and hold it for 30 minutes for an unknown reason.

Youngji added that she and her fellow interns at DSP Media were instructed: “Talk like soldiers.“ She revealed that during visits to the company, the trainees were often asked whether they “came from the army“Because that’s how they were.”nervous and stiff.”

Youngji joked that thanks to her solo debut, she is now a 5th generation K-pop idol and is no longer required to clean up practice rooms.

Find out more about her trainee days in the full video below!