"If you can't diet, you can't debut" SOWON confesses to trainee-era control and the weight of being a leader

SOWON, a former member of the group GFriend, visited the vicinity of Hakdong Station to find traces of her past trainee days after 10 years. SOWON revisited the park, practice rooms, and dormitories near Hakdong Station where she spent her trainee days and revealed episodes from that time.

"If you can't diet, you can't debut"... Strict control during trainee days

In the video, SOWON recalled the strict life during her trainee days. She revealed that at that time, trainees had very short meal times of about 30 minutes and mainly solved their meals at convenience stores. In particular, SOWON mentioned the pressure of dieting during her trainee days. She explained the situation where, due to an atmosphere of "if you can't diet, we won't let you debut," she had to monitor the members' diets as a leader. SOWON confessed, "Since I practiced for 5 years, I didn't know how long the debut would be delayed, so I wouldn't let them eat with the lights on," and added that she felt an invisible wall between her and the members during this process.

In relation to this, SOWON also opened up about her relationship with the members immediately after debut. As a leader and the eldest, she felt the pressure that "if something goes wrong, it's all my fault," and said there was a difficult period where a psychological wall formed with the members because of this. She added that she later changed her thinking, eased the hierarchy, and improved her relationship with the members. SOWON shared her opinion toward companies that raise rookies, stating that unconditional surveillance and control do not make them lose weight, and that making them feel it themselves is the most effective method.

Places of memory from 10 years ago, changes and episodes near Hakdong Station

SOWON scanned the scenery near Hakdong Station, where she spent her trainee days and early debut period. She recalled memories of that time while visiting the building where the Source Music practice room used to be, the park near the dormitory, and regular restaurants. In particular, she drew laughter by revealing an anecdote where, to solve a 'leg split photo' homework given by a choreography teacher during her trainee days, she dressed a member with a similar body type, YUJU, in her practice clothes and took the photo to submit. She recalled that the choreography teacher, upon seeing the photo, was proud and said they knew SOWON would pull it off.

Furthermore, she visited restaurants, convenience stores, and a bakery in front of the dormitory that she used to frequent. SOWON was shown visiting a pork cutlet restaurant in Namyangju to greet the chef, who was a regular of hers back then and had opened a shop called 'Migam Donkkaseu.' There are even records that GFriend members visited that restaurant in the past. SOWON visited 'Gimrokeun,' a bakery near the dormitory, and reminisced about the past while seeing how the baby who was in a stroller back then has grown.

Memories of dormitory life and advice from someone in their 6th year of living alone

SOWON also spoke specifically about the dormitory life she shared with the members. Room assignments were made in order of age, and she shared the hardships she experienced as a leader along with episodes from living with the members. In particular, she introduced an anecdote where, immediately after debut, she almost ran into a company team leader while secretly going to a restaurant with YERIN. She described the situation where SOWON was flustered because YERIN suddenly hid inside the kitchen during the meal.

SOWON also mentioned the characteristics of the dormitories she lived in. Talking about the dormitory she stayed in for about 4 years and the subsequent dormitories she moved through, she stated that the period living in a luxury villa in the middle was the hardest time for all members due to security issues and constraints in the living environment. SOWON added that living in Geumho-dong was the best because it felt like a place where people actually live.

Currently in her 6th year of living alone, SOWON offered advice to juniors based on her experience of living in a dormitory. SOWON advised, "Live in a dormitory as much as possible until you are able to live independently. Save that money," suggesting they save on costs like monthly rent to prepare funds for future independence. She emphasized that while staying in a dormitory, there are benefits such as cleaning services, which contrasts with the difficulties experienced when living alone after moving out.