Singer-turned-actor Im Si-wan has candidly reflected on the harsh realities of his trainee days, revealing the emotional toll of overcrowded living conditions before his debut.
On January 13, Im Si-wan appeared as a guest on the YouTube talk show Salon Drip, where he spoke openly about his early years preparing for debut as a member of ZE:A.
“It Felt Like Going Back in Time”
During the conversation, Im Si-wan shared that whenever he reunites with former group members, memories from their trainee period resurface most vividly—especially stories about their dorm life.
He recalled that before debut, including trainees who never made it to the final lineup, as many as ten people were crammed into a single room. Sleeping arrangements, he explained, were less about comfort and more about survival.
“We slept packed together like a game of Tetris,” he said, describing how trainees had to carefully squeeze into any available space. Late-night arrivals often meant accidentally stepping on someone already asleep, inevitably waking others up.
A Year of Endurance
According to Im Si-wan, this living arrangement wasn’t temporary. The group spent nearly a year in those conditions after moving dorms for a reality program, enduring long training schedules with minimal personal space.
Even after conditions slightly improved, sharing a room with four or five people remained the norm. He emphasized how small the space truly was, noting that the entire apartment was barely larger than the studio where Salon Drip is filmed.
The Moment That Broke Him
One of the most difficult moments, Im Si-wan admitted, came shortly after debut. After finishing a shoot and returning home exhausted in the early hours of the morning, he would barely fall asleep—only to be woken almost immediately by another member’s alarm.
“When that first alarm went off, it meant I had to get up too,” he said, recalling the overwhelming sense of helplessness. “That’s when I really felt a deep sense of self-doubt.”
A Story Shared by Many Idols
Im Si-wan’s honest recollection resonated with viewers, shedding light on the less glamorous side of idol training. His story reflects a reality many K-pop artists have endured long before stepping into the spotlight.
Now recognized for his versatility and steady acting career, Im Si-wan’s journey serves as a reminder of the resilience behind success—and the quiet sacrifices made long before fame arrived.