Major K-pop agencies usually keep their trainees away from the public eye before their debut, but trainees sometimes get to appear in their labelmates’ music videos.
These appearances are a marketing tool used by agencies, and helps their aspiring K-pop stars get used to public life in advance.
Trainees who have a high chance of debuting are usually given the opportunity. Here is a list of members of Twice and Black Pink who were given an early taste of fame.

Twice
Twice debuted on Oct. 20, 2015 with “Like Ooh-Ahh,” but Dahyun, Nayeon and Sana played major roles in GOT7’s music videos before that.

A screenshot of GOT7 music video (JYP Entertainment)

1. Dahyun
Dahyun appeared in the “Stop Stop It” video in 2015. She played a high school girl who all GOT7 members were in love with.

A screenshot of GOT7 music video (JYP Entertainment)

2. Nayeon
Nayeon appeared as a high school girl in the video for GOT7’s “Girls Girls Girls” in 2014. In the beginning of the music video she picks a ring up from the ground. She then enters a club while looking for the owner of the ring.

A screenshot of GOT7 music video (JYP Entertainment)

3. Sana
Sana played a waitress in a restaurant in GOT7’s “A” music video. Throughout the music video all GOT7 members follow Sana everywhere she goes while expressing their love for her.

Black Pink
Black Pink debuted on Aug. 8, 2016 with electronic dance music songs “Whistle” and “Boombaya.” The video for “Whistle” has earned over 70 million views on YouTube.
Black Pink members Jennie and Jisoo have appeared in videos for in different artists under YG Entertainment.

A screenshot of G-Dragon music video (YG Entertainment)

1. Jennie
Jennie appeared in G-Dragon’s “That XX” music video in 2012. She played a girl who was cheated on by her boyfriend, played by GD.

A screenshot of Hisuhyun music video (YG Entertainment)

2. Jisoo
Jisoo appeared on Epikhigh and Hi Suhyun’s music videos. In Epikhigh’s 2014 “Spoiler” Jisoo played a girl who is blindly in love. The same year, she was the girlfriend of iKon’s Bobby in a Hi Suhyun music video.

Although not in leading roles, some members played minor roles in music videos before they debuted. Twice’s Jungyeon and Momo also appeared on GOT7 “Girls Girls Girls” music video with Nayeon in 2014. They can be seen standing in the club that Nayeon enters.
BlackPink’s Rose also played a minor role in Taeyang’s “Ringa Linga” in 2013.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)