“Golden” EJAE Publicly Credits Girls’ Generation Yuri For Helping Her To Not Give Up

They trained together.

Singer-songwriter EJAE, the global sensation behind “Golden” from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, has touched hearts by revealing that Girls’ Generation’s Yuri once gave her the strength to keep chasing her dreams.

Appearing on the October 22 episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, EJAE opened up about her 12 long years as a trainee under SM Entertainment, where she trained alongside Super Junior, SHINee, f(x), EXO, and of course, Girls’ Generation.

Starting her trainee life at just 11 years old, EJAE shared that she was always the first to arrive and last to leave the practice room.

“I’d turn on the lights at 7 am. and go home around 11 pm. Looking back, I’m amazed I worked that hard at such a young age.”

But her most unforgettable memory came when Yuri noticed her practicing alone.

“Yuri unnie came in while I was singing and told me, ‘You’re going to be something. You work so hard — you’ll definitely succeed.’ That moment has stayed with me forever.”

At the time, EJAE was struggling with burnout and self-doubt after years without a debut. EJAE credits Yuri’s simple encouragement for reigniting her determination, although she did not make it to debut in the end.

Girls' Generation