“I wasn’t good enough”— RIIZE's Wonbin Opens Up About Initial Struggles at SM, The Reason He Considered Giving Up
RIIZE's Wonbin opened up about feeling discouraged before debuting, sharing a story of calling his parents to express doubts about his abilities.
During a candid conversation in episode 2 of 'RIIZE in Paris,' Wonbin recalled feeling shocked by the talent and looks of other trainees, specifically mentioning Sungchan and Eunseok.
He admitted to thinking he wasn't good enough and called his parents to express his concerns.
Such moments shed light on the challenges faced by trainees in the competitive world of K-pop.
Korean netizens commented, "It's so cute how he thought he wasn't good enough after seeing Eunseok and Sungchan. But you're Wonbin," "RIIZE's visual members are so crazy," "These three are the visual Bermuda of RIIZE, lol," "All three of them are so handsome," "What is he talking about? He's so good looking too," "SM needs to pay more taxes," and "They are all so good-looking."
BTS's Jimin Makes History by Winning 'Fan’s Choice Grand Prize' at the 2024 MAMA Awards
BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.
On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.
Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.
In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.
Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.
His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also wonBest Male Artistat the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.
The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”
Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDSin 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.
On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.
Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awardsand continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.