From Trainee to Triumph: Ejae's Journey in K-pop

Ejae, a Korean American singer, found her voice in an unexpected way. She didn't become a K-pop star as she once dreamed, but she found success as a songwriter. Her journey was not easy.

A Dream Deferred

• Started training at 11 in South Korea, hoping to debut as an idol.
• Spent years training, but her agency never gave her the chance.
• Felt like a failure and left the agency feeling hopeless.

A New Path

• Moved to New York and studied music.
• Taught herself how to produce music.
• Wrote her first song for a college project—it was terrible, but it sparked something in her.

Rising Star

• Started writing songs for other artists, including Twice and Red Velvet.
• Co-wrote and recorded demos for the soundtrack of "KPop Demon Hunters."
• The movie became a global hit.
• The song "Golden" won a Golden Globe and is up for Grammys and an Oscar.

A Lesson in Redirection

• The K-pop industry is tough, known for its intense training and high standards.
• Many trainees never debut—Ejae was one of them.
• But she found her path and proved there's more than one way to succeed.
• Her story is an inspiration, showing that failure is not the end—it can be the start of something new.