GOT7’s Jackson Wang Recalls Hardships During Trainee Years: ‘I Cried A Lot’

GOT7’s Jackson Wang revealed he cried buckets of tears when he was training as a K-pop idol in JYP Entertainment.

Wang, who relocated from China to South Korea to pursue his dreams of becoming a K-pop idol, recalled feeling very emotional during the weekly elimination rounds for trainees.

“We were going through this project cycle where they eliminate different trainees every week,” Wang told host Woody of Thailand’s “Woody FM” show. “That was very memorable to me. Because, it’s so [nervous], it’s like every week we feel like we’re about to die. But then, we’re the seven that made it to the final round.”

Before his launch as an idol, Chinese-born Wang was a teen athlete who won several medals in numerous competitions including the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships. Before he swapped the fencing blade for the mic, Wang represented China in cadet fencing championships.

As a promising athlete, Wang had scholarship offers from prestigious universities abroad but he gave up such opportunities to pursue a career in K-pop.

While in training as a singer, the 28-year-old K-pop idol said the weekly elimination activities were so intense that they often sent him to tears. “I cried. Everybody cried."

Wang also remembered a conversation with Korean trainees who shared their dorm.

“I remember once we were back in our dorm. The Korean members were like ‘If we don’t make it through this week then I feel so sorry…because we’re in Korea, but you guys gave everything up and came here….You guys would have to go back to your hometown.’ That moment I remember, I think it was in the kitchen. Everyone cried,” Wang recalled.

Throngs of fans including Thai celebrities cheered the "Magic Man" singer upon his arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport early this month for his appearance at the recent Bangkok Century Cup where he debuted his new single, “Mind Games.”

Wang is set to appear with fellow GOT7 member Bambam at the concert “K-pop Masterz” in Bangkok at the end of this month.

But, while he is amazed at the warm reception he received from his Thai fans, Wang said he knows that his popularity is not forever. “To me, it’s kinda like a bubble,” he told Woody. “While I have it, I really need to appreciate it and train and make sure I’m in the best form for it.”

Also in the interview, Wang said he wants to try acting before he turns 30.