Winter Reveals Untold Story Behind Difficult SM Audition Journey

Winter shared her long audition history and revealed she finally passed SM’s third audition after two rejections. She spoke candidly about setbacks and confidence gained through other companies’ interest during her trainee days. On Salon Drip, her playful story about meeting aliens amused Korean fans and sparked lively online reactions.

Guest Appearance by Winter on Salon Drip Creates Buzz

On Tuesday, July 1, Winter made a guest appearance on the popular YouTube show Salon Drip, hosted by Jang Do-yeon. The video, titled “Winter Tells a Chilling Tale… EP. 97 Winter,” was posted on the Salon Drip YouTube channel. Throughout the episode, Winter showed great chemistry with Jang Do-yeon, creating a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere. Their lighthearted banter and shared laughter made the conversation flow easily and kept viewers engaged.

Winter Describes Her Journey Through a Challenging Audition Process

Winter shared that she began her training in 2017 and continued for three years before her debut. She explained that she auditioned for SM Entertainment three separate times and succeeded only on her third attempt. At her first audition, the staff member unexpectedly showed interest in her older brother instead of her. Winter remembered thinking, “Was I not the reason we came? Was it really this simple for him?” Despite her disappointment, she continued to pursue her dream without giving up.

Winter Faced Rejection But Gained Confidence Through Repeated Audition Attempts

Winter said both she and her brother failed the initial audition, even though she felt she sang better than him. She then auditioned at an SM Global event in Busan but was rejected again. “I thought maybe SM just wasn’t the right place for me,” she said. Undeterred, she tried out at several other companies, and many invited her to return for second rounds. Her efforts helped build her confidence as she felt others recognized her potential even if SM had not yet done so.

Winter Reconnected With SM After Exploring Other Audition Opportunities

Despite trying out at different companies, Winter continued communicating with the SM casting team. She told them she was considering another agency, and they quickly asked her to audition again. Winter noted that they seemed to change their attitude once they thought she might leave. Wanting to debut under SM, she agreed to audition one more time—and that third attempt led to her final acceptance.

Winter Entertains instiz with Her Story About Aliens and Secret-Keeping

After the episode aired, Korean online communities like instiz buzzed with excitement over Winter’s appearance. Viewers especially loved the moment she shared how she would react if she met an alien. Winter said she wouldn’t tell anyone and would keep it a secret no matter what. When Jang Do-yeon jokingly asked what she’d do if the alien had a bad personality, Winter replied she’d stay even quieter. Fans found her expression and gestures—especially placing her finger to her lips—adorable and memorable. Many remarked that Winter’s storytelling felt personal, expressive, and uniquely entertaining.

Winter Forest Grows into a Symbol of Fan Love in Seoul Forest

Winter Forest in Seoul Forest was expanded through donations and design efforts from aespa Winter’s fan club. The garden includes benches shaped like the letter “W” and features fifteen types of trees and flowers.

Here’s a link to instiz.

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