Singer-songwriter EJAE, known worldwide for the hit “Golden” from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters, revealed the struggles of her trainee years at SM Entertainment, bringing viewers to tears during her appearance on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block.”
On the October 22 episode of You Quiz, EJAE joined hosts Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho to share her personal story — from spending 12 years as an SM trainee to finding her voice as a global artist.
“I Started Training at 11 and Worked So Hard”
EJAE shared that she became an SM trainee at just 11 years old, training alongside groups like Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, and f(x).
“I worked really hard,” she recalled. “Girls’ Generation’s Yuri once told me, ‘You’re going to make it. You work so hard, you’ll definitely succeed.’”
Despite her long journey, EJAE never debuted. She explained that her vocal tone at the time didn’t fit SM’s direction.
“My voice wasn’t trendy back then. I tried to make it sound cleaner because that’s what they wanted. I wasn’t as good a singer yet, and I was getting older. I understand why they couldn’t debut me — I missed the timing.”
“I Cried Leaving the Company — I Was So Disappointed in Myself”
After her contract ended, EJAE said she cried in the taxi on her way home.
“I was so disappointed in myself,” she confessed. “I worked so hard, but it didn’t happen. I felt like I failed the younger version of me who dreamed of becoming a singer.”
Her words moved both hosts and viewers, showing the emotional toll behind the glittering world of K-pop.
From Trainee to Global Artist
Though she never debuted as an idol, Lee turned her pain into artistry. She later became a composer and vocalist, writing and producing massive hits such as Red Velvet’s “Psycho” and aespa’s “Drama” and “Armageddon.”
Her success reached new heights with “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters, which topped global charts and stayed No.1 on Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, cementing her as one of Korea’s most successful crossover artists.
About You Quiz on the Block
You Quiz on the Block features hosts Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho, who travel around Korea meeting inspiring guests from all walks of life. The show airs every Wednesday at 8:45 PM KST on tvN.
Editor’s Insight
EJAE’s 12 years at SM weren’t a waste; they were an apprenticeship for a throne she had to build herself. Her “Golden” era isn’t a miracleit’s the natural result of a woman who stayed at cafes until closing time making beats because she refused to let her 11-year-old self down. If you want to know what “K-Soft Power” really looks like, it’s a stadium full of non-Koreans singing her Korean lyrics at the top of their lungs.