Part ⑤ [Tour Cube]: A look back to trainee Han Yeji + final words from CEO Hong

We’re now back with the the trainees that we met in part one of the tour with a better understanding of what makes up their day.

It’s been a year and six months since Han Yeji first joined Cube Entertainment, and she’s spent every single day of her life since then training without rest so that she could hopefully become the next 4minute, G.NA, or A Pink.

She says that she leads a double life: one of a normal high school student during the day, and one who holds passionate hopes and dreams during the night.

After heading into the Cube building after school, Yeji changes into comfortable training clothes and works without rest until 10 PM. Although the schedule would make anyone else reel with fatigue, she’s hungry for more, as even a 40 hour day wouldn’t be enough for her.

As previously mentioned, the mission for the week was to write their own rap lyrics with ‘dreams’ as the theme. On weeks where their monthly evaluations overlap with their weekly missions, they’re busier than ever. Once the sun goes down, nothing can be heard but various voices belting their hearts out on the two floors of the Cube building.

A day passes by in the blink of an eye, and Yeji tiredly finishes off her homework and winds down with a brief round of internet surfing before she gets into bed for good.

Unfortunately, her head is a jumble of thoughts from the minute she closes her eyes until she finally falls asleep. “So this is how today went by”, “I didn’t think it’d be this hard to become a singer”, “Why did I do so bad today”, “When am I going to debut”, “Should I call it quits while I can?”

Her final thought, though, is always, “Let’s just hold it in one more time for the sake of my dreams. For my sake…”

With 30 trainees under their wings, Cube Entertainment doesn’t skimp when it comes to training. Out of their 20 exclusive trainers, the majority were former singers who emphasize vocal talent above all.

There are also five to six that play the same role as the homeroom teacher in schools. They manage everything from the trainees’ lesson attitudes, improvements, school grades, and counseling when needed.

Trainees that dorm with Cube also have specific trainers that are more like their mom than an instructor in order to help them feel more adjusted and focused.

Director Shin stated, “The number one trait that our trainees must have is character. Singing and dancing can be taught, but character is largely influenced and can be changed by environment and upbringing, so we have to pay extra careful to make sure that they don’t fall down the wrong path.”

CEO Hong concluded this impressive tour of his agency by stating, “Our standards will always be passion and potential, not talent. I always let my artists and trainees know that they are not merely an artist under my agency, but a co-investor right alongside me. By telling them this, I hope to foster a sense of responsibility so that they can stand by their words and actions as adults.”

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Credits : allkpop

Part ④ [Tour Cube]: A day in the life of a Cube trainee

Now that we’ve gotten a deeper glimpse into what makes up the foundations of Cube Entertainment, the tour takes us back to Cube’s training room.

One of the biggest questions raised by the public is the actual education of these trainees. With such intense schedules, do they actually have the time to attend classes and complete their coursework?

Trainers answered, “It’s a complete misunderstanding by the public. They think that trainees live a more comfortable life compared to students who must prepare for college entrance exams, but that’s completely wrong.”

So what’s in a day for a Cube trainee?

◆ 6:00 AM

Like any other student their age, trainees wake up at 6 AM to prepare for school. They attend classes right alongside their classmates, but use their breaks wisely by studying and listening to music to prepare for their weekly evaluations.

The mission for this week is creating your own rap. The trainees are given a specific beat and must come up with their own rap lyrics to present before their trainers. In order to fully immerse themselves in the mission, the trainees busily listen to every hip hop track they can get their hands on every chance they get.

After lunch, they’ll practice choreographies in the auditorium or go up to the school rooftop to practice singing. Unlike their peers, trainees don’t get a minute of rest at school, since they use every minute they can to make up for what they lack.

◆ 5:00 PM

After attending all of their classes, they say goodbye to their friends and head straight to the Cube building. Earphones never leave their ears even on the bus ride over, and some can be seen murmuring the lyrics to their mission rap as they anxiously wait for their stop.

Once they arrive, they enter the building after a fingerprint scan and turn in their cell phones and diaries. Cell phones aren’t allowed inside of their training rooms since they’re seen as a distraction, and are promptly returned once trainees leave the building.

Before they begin training, they get their meal tickets and head to the cafeteria. Although they’re fed a wide variety of side dishes, they’re careful with what they eat. Trainees who eat dinner at the company usually order fresh chicken salad.

◆ 6:00 PM

This is the busiest time for trainees, as they finally begin their training day. As mentioned before, trainees divide into their respective groups (preparation trainees, trainees, and project trainees) and follow a set time schedule.

Vocal lessons are held on a one-on-one basis with their instructors. There are only two vocal instructors, so they’re able to catch every mistake and improvement with each trainee. Since it’s one of the most basic trainee courses, they’re careful not to slack.

Choreography lessons are given in one hour intervals. Even if the instructor is not present, trainees are still expected to fulfill their hour.

Foreign language lessons are centered around Mandarin-Chinese and Japanese. In each classroom, there’s a white board and set of desks that look no different from any other academy. There’s a list of names on the white board under the title, ‘Retests’.

Saturday is one of the more interesting days. Depending on the time schedule, trainees participate in character training, sex education, health education, and sometimes depression tests. Once every two weeks, trainees are told to collect the garbage around their neighborhood. Once a month, they take part in more rigorous volunteer and charity work.

Because time schedules vary from day to day, there are hours where nothing is scheduled. Female trainees will usually head to a yoga class while male trainees head to the company gym and work out. Some use the time to catch up on their foreign language lessons while others head into booths to practice their singing.

◆ 10:00 PM

All training ends at 10 PM. For those trainees who live close to the company, it’s a quick trip home, but for those who live further out, they don’t get home till past midnight. It’s not lost time, though, as they’ll recount dance steps in their heads or memorize lyrics on the bus.

◆ 1:00 AM

After going over their weekly evaluation missions one last time, they write their feelings, thoughts, and other concerns in their Cube diaries. The diary is divided into lesson sections, and by the time they’re done filling all of those out, it’s already 3 AM. Finally concluding their day, trainees briefly nestle in their beds before they wake up to another cycle the next day.

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Part ③ [Tour Cube]: What is CEO Hong Seung Sung’s recipe for success?

Cube Entertainment’s CEO, Hong Seung Sung (47), has 50 kids. While that may sound shocking at first, you have to realize that he regards every single person under his company as his child, and that includes 4minute, B2ST, G.NA, A Pink, others and the 30 trainees.

“They’re my children. They couldn’t hurt me for the world,” he affectionately said.

It was this family bond that helped them rise to become one of the top agencies in just under three years. If his character training system didn’t move you, this sure will: “I plan for the seven years that they are with me, and for the next seven years after they leave my embrace. It’s my role to make sure that there’s nothing that stands in the way of their love for music.”

CEO Hong is no stranger to this industry. He’s been working in it for 20 years of his life, and if there’s one thing he’s learned all this while, it’s the importance of communication. To trainees that go through physical and mental pressure every day, this becomes an especially important tool.

“As opposed to whipping them into shape, I want to foster them into overcoming their obstacles. When all you do for three years of your life is train, it’s inevitable that you’re going to feel worried and pressured. Thus, it’s important that I help them overcome their sense of dread and torture so that they can take that next step to achieve their dreams.”

That’s why instead of criticizing what they lack during their monthly evaluations, he’ll emphasize what they excelled in to instill a stronger sense of confidence in their skills.

To trainees that come from tough financial situations, he provides room and board, and when necessary, even allowances. CEO Hong has become one of the few (very few) leaders of the industry that has managed to transcend the relationship of CEO and idol to father and child.

He stated, “My artists and I are co-investors, it’s just that our roles are different. There are many kids that jump into this industry too hastily trusting only in their dreams, and inevitably, they’re unable to handle it. This path requires so much effort to be poured in, it’s important that trainees realize the importance of responsibility. Don’t chase after the money, because when you’re responsible for who you are, wealth and honor will always follow. That’s what I always tell them.”

Cube Entertainment invest 30% of their income back into their training system.

As the number is higher than most, he was asked why, to which he explained, “The training room is where you can see the future of the next 10 years of the music industry. Should I have the resources, I’d love to invest more than that. These days, there are so many audition programs that skyrocket stars into the industry so early, but we all have to realize that preparation is the foundation of our success. You’re going to lose what you’ve earned if you fail to make up for what you lack.”

CEO Hong reflected back onto Rain’s training days. “He was one of the best when it came to passion and effort. He’d only sleep for two to three hours a day and spend the rest on his training. It’s because of such strong foundation that he’s able to stand where he is today.”

He continued, “We’ve surpassed the generation of the ‘Asian star’ and are now standing before the generation of the ‘world star’. For the past 10 years, we’ve prepared to conquer Asia, and I feel that we’re not too far from reaching the status of American pop stars within the next five to 10 years. I consider this the generation of training. I’m counting down to the day where our company will become one of the leading agencies in the world so that we can re-invest into our kids.”

credits : allkpop

Part ② [Tour Cube]: What does it take to become a Cube Entertainment star?

This second instalment in Sports Seoul’s 5-part editorial series on Cube Entertainment focuses on rookie casting director, Shin Min Jung. In order for an entertainment agency’s training system to truly shine, it needs people like her to spot gems from the crowd.

Director Shin revealed, “Every week, we receive about 500 audition tapes online. Only about 100 to 200 of those pass the first round, and then they can participate in an offline audition, which is only held twice a month.”

She continued, “We don’t look at what they have, but at their potential to improve and advance. When we look at auditions, we look at their character, will, and skills. People with the potential to improve have nowhere but to go up when we take them in and foster their skills.”

When asked how many trainees Cube Entertainment hosts, she revealed, “We currently have a total of 23 trainees. Three are from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In order to keep up with their school studies, foreign trainees will use their break to come to Korea and train. We also have four trainees who are living with a lifestyle management counselor in a separate dorm.”

Once you pass your audition, you enter the agency as a trainee. After you’ve gained enough skills and are deemed to be talented enough for a debut, you’re put in a project team to train with to prepare for your debut. Although we’re familiar with the term ‘trainee’, there are actually three levels behind the term: ‘preparation trainee’,'trainee’, and ‘project trainee’.

The trainees are given lessons in vocals, choreography, acting, and foreign languages. Once you enter the Cube office, you can see a board that lists the results of monthly evaluations and opinions from trainers. Colored star stickers by names indicate that they have improved, while black stickers indicate that they need to step it up.

Director Shin explained, “Trainees who receive a star sticker earn more opportunities to hit the stage and actually debut. We give trainees black stickers in an effort to get them to step it up and really work to improve. In short, it prevents slacking.”

One of the most remarkable things about the training system under Cube is their character training courses. The trainers take their roles seriously and consider themselves as guardians of their trainees. Thus, in order to help them grow as respectable members of society, they’re always pushing for clear communication to connect on a personal level.

Director Shin stated, “Because the majority of our trainees are still in their teens, they’re partnered with an exclusive ‘homeroom trainer’ if you will. Trainees hand in their cell phones and diaries the minute they enter the building. Their diaries are used to record their feelings and other problems or concerns that they feel with their training. Our trainers are also responsible for checking their health and school grades. Should they receive a low test score at school, the trainer will sit with them and come up with a goal to bring up their grade.”

Not only are the trainees put through dancing and singing lessons, but they’re also given sex education, volunteer work, and depression tests as well. ”Once a month, trainees participate in volunteer work. Once every two weeks, they’ll go around the neighborhood and collect trash. It’s not only talent that we’re fostering; we’re creating an artist that has both talent and proper character.”

credits : allkpop

Part ① [Tour Cube]: Meet Cube Entertainment’s two trainees, Im Hyun Sik & Han Yeji

It seems that every few weeks, a new idol emerges in Korea’s entertainment world. The idol industry is undeniably at its height this year, with rookies popping up left and right. The standard course for rookie interviews seem to take the route of revealing the hardships and obstacles they faced in order to achieve their debut, but what really goes on behind the scenes?

In a lengthy investigative report run by Sports Seoul, the media outlet dug into one of Korea’s rising entertainment agencies, Cube Entertainment, in an effort to see just what it takes to become an idol in this competitive industry.

Join us in this eye-opening five part tour of the inner workings of Cube Entertainment!

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Sports Seoul was able to get access to two trainees who have been training under Cube for the past two years for an in-depth interview straight from the source.

Singer-trainee Im Hyun Sik (19) is currently a college student who travels to and fro from Ilsan. In order to keep up with the younger, more energetic high school trainees, he comes in for practice earlier than most. After rehearsing until 10 PM, he heads back home all the way to Ilsan.

Like many others, he only sleeps for four, maybe five, hours at most. “Everyday, I think to myself that I have to cut back on my sleep. I’m physically tired, but it’s when I’m the happiest. It’s upsetting for me that I’m losing rehearsal time because I live so far away.”

Han Yeji (17) auditioned for 15 other agencies before she got in as a trainee under Cube. Because she’s a high school student, she must attend all of her classes before she’s allowed to come in for training. “I go to sleep at 1 AM and wake up at 6:30. I finish my training at 10 PM.”

Han Yeji continued, “I thought it’d be easy, I had no idea that it would require this much sweat.” Im Hyun Sik agreed, “Before I became a trainee, I didn’t think it’d be this hard to become an idol singer.”

When asked what her greatest concern was lately, she revealed, “Dieting is so hard. I love spicy rice cakes but it makes me gain weight easily so I can’t eat it as I wish.”

Im Hyun Sik answered, “I feel frustrated every time I get put in a slump because I don’t feel satisfied with the pace at which I’m improving. Even if I debut, I’m worried as to whether I’d be able to pull it off successfully.”

Han Yeji nodded her head and added, “I’d definitely rather be prepared when I finally get to stand before the public as opposed to debuting too early unprepared.”

From attending classes to fulfilling their training, where do they get the will to continue living such a lifestyle? “It’s worth it when I see myself improve. We recently performed at the company’s showcase and the feeling was indescribable. Our passion overtakes our fatigue.”

When asked their opinions on audition programs debuting singers at the speed of light, Im Hyun Sik replied, “It’d be a lie if I said we weren’t upset. But still, I’ve learned a lot for the past two years I’ve been training. I’m sure there are consequences that come with becoming a star too fast.”

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credits : allkpop