The Singer Personally Selected by Lee Soo-man for S.E.S.: Almost Joined the Iconic Group

She rose to prominence by skillfully managing dual careers as both a singer and actress. Notably, there was a time when she was on the threshold of joining S.E.S., one of the most cherished first-generation Korean girl groups.

“I Won’t Let Go of Either My Studies or My Career”

Soy’s formative years were marked by constant relocations, owing to her father’s role as a diplomat. In reflecting on her childhood, she expressed, “The absence of a permanent home often left me feeling isolated, and I was perpetually prepared to move on. It was music that provided me solace during such times.”

Her path into the entertainment sphere unfolded through a fortunate series of events. A devoted music enthusiast, she often frequented department stores to catch MTV broadcasts. One day, her mother encouraged her to audition for the VJ selection contest held by MTV Korea.

Encouraged by her mother’s suggestion, Soy entered the contest and, in 1994, enjoyed a brief performance on a music show, fulfilling her longstanding dream of being on stage. Unfortunately, her budding broadcasting career was abruptly halted when her father was reassigned to the United States, necessitating a move to Los Angeles.

While in Los Angeles, she received an unexpected visit from Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment, and producer Yoo Young-jin. They had come to meet her older sister, who had made an appearance on the “Starry Night Show.”

However, her sister’s shyness led her to avoid the meeting, inadvertently drawing Lee Soo-man’s attention to Soy instead. Impressed by her potential, he considered casting her in an upcoming international girl group—though the name S.E.S. had yet to be chosen.

Curiosity about the music industry led Soy to participate in S.E.S.’s initial preparations. Despite her enthusiasm, she maintained that her education came first. “I hadn’t considered a singing career initially,” she noted. “My interests were academically inclined, but balancing that with preparations to debut proved to be more challenging than I anticipated.”

After a month of rigorous training, she opted to forgo her aspirations in favor of her education, subsequently enrolling at Korea University to study Chinese Language and Literature. Nevertheless, her passion for performing resurfaced when she successfully auditioned for the girl group T.T.Ma.

After two years, however, she made the decision to leave the group, feeling that their public persona did not resonate with her true identity. In 2007, Soy embarked on a new musical venture by forming “Raspberry Field,” releasing a fresh track in June.

Source: Daum

Source & Images