Nam Gyu Ri recalls trainee days at SM and YG before SeeYa debut

Nam Gyu Ri revealed how her arrival changed the original debut plans for SeeYa during a recent television appearance.

On the May 31 episode of Heo Young Man’s Food Travel, Nam Gyu Ri joined fellow SeeYa members Kim Yeon Ji and Lee Bo Ram for a food trip in Seongnam with host Heo Young Man.

Heo Young Man was visibly surprised by Nam Gyu Ri’s youthful appearance, joking, “I thought you were in your 20s. This is a scam,” despite the singer being in her 40s.

During the episode, Lee Bo Ram shared a little-known story about the group’s debut preparations. “Our company had a tradition of launching faceless singers, and SeeYa was originally preparing to debut that way as well,” she explained.

However, those plans changed after Nam Gyu Ri joined the lineup.

“Then an incredibly beautiful member came in,” Lee Bo Ram said with a laugh. “That’s why we ended up debuting as a group with visible members instead of a faceless concept.”

She added that the shift brought many unexpected changes, including dance training and additional performance responsibilities.

Nam Gyu Ri also reflected on her trainee years before debuting with SeeYa in 2006, revealing that she had previously trained under both SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment before eventually finding success with the group.

The candid conversation offered fans a rare glimpse into SeeYa’s early history and how one member’s presence helped reshape the group’s identity before debut.