Jo Jun-young Says His SM Trainee Experience Was a “Weapon, Not Regret”—He Still Keeps in Touch with RIIZE Occasionally

Actor Jo Jun-young revealed that he was once an idol trainee at SM Entertainment and reflected on that period of his life. Recently, he held a Hanbok interview ahead of the Spring Festival in Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he discussed various topics including the tvN Monday-Tuesday drama “Spring Fever” that concluded on February 10.

Jo Jun-young first encountered SM Entertainment through street casting after taking the entrance exam for Seoul Performing Arts High School, and for a time, he pursued his dream of becoming a singer. Looking back on his trainee days, he admitted, “It’s true that I felt quite disappointed when I had to leave as a trainee, but now I think those moments are not at all regrettable—they can actually become weapons.”

He added, “Although what I learned back then might be insufficient in many areas, there was plenty of value in it, and I believe it can be utilized as content that allows me to showcase different sides of myself.” In fact, his trainee experience proved directly beneficial for his acting career. Jo Jun-young explained, “Even when I acted in the drama ‘IDOL: The Coup,’ those memories helped me integrate into the role more effectively.”

Currently building a solid filmography as an actor, Jo Jun-young played the character Sun Gyun-gyeol in the tvN Monday-Tuesday drama “Spring Fever,” acting alongside Ahn Bo-hyun. Though he felt embarrassed about his dancing and singing skills, he said, “I hope to improve on what I practiced and be able to demonstrate it in a short time.”

His affection for the boy group RIIZE, with whom he trained as an idol trainee, remains strong. Jo Jun-young said, “We don’t stay in touch frequently, but when we meet or occasionally communicate, we support each other’s paths.” He added, “Since we share memories from our trainee days together, I really hope that once we have more free time in the future, we can talk about everything we haven’t had the chance to discuss yet.”

Jo Jun-young’s goal for the future is to become an actor with “multiple facets.” He expressed, “I hope my portrayal changes significantly with each project, rather than being defined by just one label.” He emphasized his desire to pursue challenges without fear across various genres, including variety shows and musicals, in addition to acting.