ILLIT member Wonhee revealed the surprising story behind her debut in a recent YouTube video.
On March 8, KST, Wonhee and Minju appeared on comedian Kim Dae Hee‘s YouTube show, Let’s Eat, and shared many behind-the-scenes stories about ILLIT’s dynamic, as well as their path to debuting in the group.
Wonhee revealed that she was abruptly scouted on the streets while traveling from her hometown to Seoul.
While I was living in Changwon, I came to Seoul by express bus. I was looking for the subway station in Seoul. A guy came behind me and asked me if I knew HYBE.
— Wonhee
Just like that, Wonhee was street-cast by HYBE. The idol, however, admitted that she felt “embarrassed” during the encounter, adding that she “tried to end the situation” hurriedly. Eventually, it started her journey as a trainee, leading her to debut in ILLIT.
A curious Kim Dae Hee asked, “Then, your childhood dream wasn’t a singer?” Wonhee immediately responded that she had a different career in mind since a very young age. “Actually, I dreamed of becoming a magician,” she admitted, leaving Kim flabbergasted.
Wonhee then explained that her dream was inspired by watching magician Choi Hyunwoo on TV.
I’m a big fan of his. I was watching the old variety show he appeared in. His magic was so cool and attractive. So I watched all the shows he was in. One day he came to Changwon for the performance. I went to see his performance at that time too…That’s why I wanted to become a magician.
— Wonhee
It turns out that being a magician was not merely a dream of Wonhee’s. She, in fact, learned some of the basics and could still do kids’ magic tricks. But as she proceeded to showcase some of them, Kim Dae Hee joked, “It was aa good thing you became a singer.”
You can watch the full episode here: