Leading Third-Gen Idol Admits To Living Off Of Hand-Me-Downs During Trainee Days
SEVENTEEN might be one of HYBE’s biggest moneymakers now, but their humble start is no news for fans. In a recent variety show appearance, the group’s member Joshua touched upon some of their struggles from those early days.
On November 5, KST, Joshua appeared as a guest on comedian Hong Jin Kyung’s YouTube show, Zzin_Genius. During their conversation, Joshua mentioned that his current agency, Pledis Entertainment, had scouted him while he was attending a festival in Korea.
After becoming a trainee, however, the struggle he faced was unexpected. Joshua revealed that his agency only provided one meal a day, and for the rest, he had to use his mother’s money. When MC Hong asked how much his income had grown compared to that time, Joshua honestly responded, “It’s incomparable.”
“Back then, I used to calculate everything,” the idol recalled, admitting that he would often cut back on food to save some money. “My mom and family are all in the United States. I got 500,000 won a month, which was a lot back then,” he admitted. However, Hong noted that the money was not a lot, given that it also had to cover Joshua’s food expenses.
Joshua then pointed out that he also had to buy clothes with that money, which wasn’t always enough. So, when his seniors gifted them their old clothes, he was more than happy to accept them. “The senior colleagues from NU’EST…When they gave us their clothes, we would choose from them.”
After struggling through such financial constraints, when SEVENTEEN finally started making money, Joshua bought himself his first luxury bag. Though he bought it ten years ago, he still carries it around with him and had brought it to the studio as well, “I think I will keep this forever, really,” he admitted with a smile.
Joshua’s candid admission has touched fans, reminding them of the difficulties SEVENTEEN had to overcome to become the world-class artists they are today.
500,000 won is 340 usd btw… and yall say svt didn’t have it hard https://t.co/qjfb1B1JNL
— jae (@seungkwanmeow) December 4, 2025
Seventeen definitely knows how hard is training days and being rookie. That's why they spoil TWS with new shoes, ipad, and eating out. Cos they know the feeling of someone reaching out to them.
To Nuest, Super Junior and other seniors who are kind to nugu seventeen that time: https://t.co/W45Rriv8xb pic.twitter.com/m8EJ954Q4v
— Keiti ⑰ 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝓸𝓻 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥 ⚡ (@KuroiKarasu38) December 5, 2025
Hearing another pre-debut stories about SVT made me admire them even more. They really rose from the ground with pure talent, persistence, personality, and determination https://t.co/RcoGRgguca
— BBHumbleEris (@BBHumble_04) December 4, 2025
every struggle story I hear about svt, it makes me so sad like they were all little kids going through so much 😭 all that hard work is paying off, but i wonder what happened to others who did not debut or do not have successful careers 🤧 https://t.co/gFh1C1NbR0
— Jae 🦦 (@yawn_woo_) December 5, 2025
