On the November 20 broadcast of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block,” Seo Hyun-jin shared how she ended up auditioning for SM Entertainment during a special episode. During the show, MC Yoo Jae-suk mentioned: “Hyun-jin, you’ve been in the industry for 19 years and if we count ‘MILK’ it’s more than 20 years. You are undeniably good at acting, and as everyone knows, you are a former lead singer of SM Entertainment.
Seo Hyun-jin replied humbly, “Now I only sing karaoke” before reminiscing about his time with the group.
Comedian Jo Se-ho then asked: “What other teams debuted around the same time as you?” Seo Hyun-jin recalled, mentioning, “At that time there were bands like Sugar and Black Beat.”
Jo Se-ho added, “Now, many people recognize you as an actress, but I still remember you as part of MILK. You were pretty popular back then, weren’t you?” Seo Hyun-jin replied candidly, “No, we weren’t, so I ended up leaving.”
Yoo Jae-suk expressed surprise, “I thought MILK had been around longer.” Seo Hyun-jin clarified, “We were only active for a year and appeared on public broadcasts only four times.”
Yoo Jae-suk then asked how Seo Hyun-jin got into the idol scene, to which she explained, “It was the era of street casting. I was walking the streets of Ewha with my friends after a school trip when I met an SM scout, and that’s how I got the audition.
When Yoo Jae-suk asked her what her thoughts were when she first received the opportunity to audition, Seo Hyun-jin shared: “I was a fan of HOT and SES at the time, so it seemed really surreal. I just thought, “Let’s give it a try.” I didn’t think it was a scam. Then I would sing Park Hye-kyung or Park Ki-young songs, like ‘Confession’ or ‘Blue Sky’.”
Yoo Jae-suk also pointed out that Seo Hyun-jin had a background in dance, having studied traditional Korean dance since elementary school and attended National Gugak High School. He asked how his family reacted when he decided to join MS. Seo Hyun-jin shared, “My parents didn’t really understand what going into the entertainment business would entail. They thought maybe I could become a news anchor, so they agreed. Looking back, even though I had worked so hard in dance and passed the entrance exams for a prestigious school, it’s surprising that I ended up abandoning that path so suddenly.”
Seo Hyun-jin also gave an impromptu performance of MILK’s hit song “Come To Me,” showcasing her clear voice and impressive vocal prowess. Yoo Jae-suk complimented her, “You’re really good. You were definitely the lead singer.
He also reflected on his journey, “After transferring to a regular high school from National Gugak High School, I was invited to a performance by my old classmates who attended the dance class. When I saw them perform, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I cried a lot afterwards, realizing that I had changed paths and enrolled in MS, and hadn’t fully accepted that I had changed majors at that point.
Source: Daum
