Former SM Trainee Kim Yun-yi Impresses on 'Our Ballad' with Emotional Debut

Kim Yun-yi, a former trainee who completed her rigorous training period, has captivated viewers with her emotional debut performance on SBS's 'Our Ballad.'

In the third episode of 'Our Ballad,' aired on the 7th, the first round of the main competition unfolded. During the broadcast, 22-year-old participant Kim Yun-yi revealed her five years of training experience at SM Entertainment, drawing significant attention.

Upon her appearance, online communities buzzed with comparisons to Red Velvet’s Wendy. Kim Yun-yi explained, “I was contacted after uploading ballad cover videos on YouTube. I started preparing to be an idol in my second year of high school,” adding, “My trainee period overlapped with aespa and HaJeonTsuHaJeon. I was a trainee for about five years.”

She further shared her complex emotions: “It felt strange watching [their performances] from home. These were friends I saw every day, and seeing them beautifully styled on a big stage made me feel sad and a mix of other emotions.”

Kim Yun-yi chose Yoon Sang's 'The Shadow of Parting' for her performance. Cha Tae-hyun offered words of encouragement, stating, “I don’t know how your trainee journey concluded, but this is certainly your debut stage today.”

As the song neared its end, the dramatic lighting of the 'pass' signal elicited cheers from everyone. Danny Koo commented, “People were so cruel,” referencing the tense atmosphere, while Cha Tae-hyun noted, “Your earnest effort in singing every single note was impressive.” Park Kyung-lim added, “She seems to be carrying on the lineage of main vocalists. The feeling of hearing this song on the train back to Daejeon after finishing up trainee duties was alive in her performance. It felt so desperate.” Mimi also praised Kim Yun-yi’s courage, saying, “I find it amazing. Preparing as an idol for five years would involve different training, so challenging yourself with a ballad is incredibly cool.”

/hylim@osen.co.kr

[Photo] SBS ‘Our Ballad’

Following the broadcast, online communities and social media platforms were filled with supportive messages like 'Kim Yun-yi finally debuted!', 'She really looks like Wendy,' and 'She seems to shine on stage after all her hard work as a trainee.' Many are particularly applauding her bold decision to pursue a new path as a ballad singer instead of an idol.