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G-Dragon Once Rejected Lee Soo Hyuk From BIGBANG…As He Was Too Tall
A surprising anecdote from K-Pop history reveals that actor Lee Soo hyuk nearly joined the iconic group BIGBANG, but was deemed unsuitable by G-dragon due to his height.
BIGBANG, celebrating two decades since their debut, continues to captivate fans with untold stories from their rise to fame. The group,currently comprised of G-Dragon,Taeyang,and Daesung,originally launched with five members,including former members T.O.P and Seungri. While Seungri departed the entertainment industry in 2019 following the Burning Sun scandal and T.O.P left in May 2023, a engaging “what if” scenario has emerged: BIGBANG could have included a sixth member – actor and model Lee Soo Hyuk.
Lee Soo Hyuk began his career in 2006 and signed with YG Entertainment, BIGBANG’s agency, in 2017. He pursued both modeling and acting roles under the agency before moving to SARAM Entertainment in 2025. The surprising revelation of his near-miss membership came during a recent appearance on episode 94 of Daesung’s YouTube show, ZIP DAESUNG, alongside G-Dragon.
During a casual conversation, lee recounted a story from G-Dragon’s pre-debut days, a time when the future K-Pop titans were still assembling their lineup. “Back in high school, [G-Dragon] called me,” Lee shared. “‘In your neighbourhood, are there any kids who are good at dancing and singing?’ He was trying to recruit members for BIGBANG at the time.” Lee recalled that G-Dragon and Taeyang were the only trainees at that early stage.
In a playful turn, Lee confessed to jokingly offering his own services when G-Dragon inquired about potential recruits. “But he called me, when he was looking for members. I never imagined it would become this. Ah, back then I even joked, ‘Me!’ That’s what I said.” G-Dragon admitted he didn’t recall the exact exchange, but Lee vividly remembers the response.
“And do you know what he said?” Lee asked Daesung, before revealing, “He said I couldn’t because I was too tall.” According to his profile with SARAM Entertainment,Lee Soo Hyuk stands at 6’1″. G-Dragon confirmed the recollection, stating, “That sounds right. That’s probably it,” and playfully adding, “You’d be a better fit for TVXQ.”
The story quickly gained traction on social media, with fans sharing screenshots of the moment.
https://twitter.com/seungt0phyun/status/1755249999999999999
https://twitter.com/jekkibby2/status/1755250000000000000
The anecdote serves as a lighthearted reminder of the unpredictable nature of K-Pop formation and the often-arbitrary factors that shape the careers of global superstars. While Lee Soo Hyuk ultimately forged his own successful path in acting and modeling,the story offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of BIGBANG.
