Archival footage of Song Ga-in as rookie Cho Eun-sim revealed

During the March 13 broadcast of KBS 1TV's "Morning Forum," archival footage showed trot star Song Ga-in performing on the "National Singing Contest" in 2010. Appearing under her birth name, Cho Eun-sim, the 25-year-old singer from Jisan-myeon, Jindo County, won the Grand Prize.

The youthful appearance of singer Song Ga-in from 16 years ago has captured attention after being revealed on broadcast. While she has established herself as a trot star possessing unrivaled vocal skills and public popularity, she was once a rookie nurturing her dreams of becoming a singer on the "National Singing Contest" stage under her birth name, Cho Eun-sim. As footage of her appearing on stage with a youthful face was released, interest has also focused on her unknown days and the stories behind her debut.

The March 13 broadcast of KBS 1TV's "Morning Forum" was presented as a "Quiz Show: A Great Fortune" special. Appearing on the program were singer Park Sang-cheol and composers Lee Ho-seop and Park Sung-hoon, who have all shone on the "National Singing Contest," to share stories about singers connected to the program.

In particular, composer Park Sung-hoon's past connections drew attention. He is a figure who has discovered many talented singers while serving as a judge on the "National Singing Contest." Song Ga-in, who has grown into a representative singer of the trot industry, was one of the vocalists who caught Park Sung-hoon's eye and began her path as a singer.

During the broadcast, archival footage was shown of Song Ga-in appearing on the "National Singing Contest" in 2010, when she was 25 years old. At the time, she took the stage under her birth name, Cho Eun-sim, rather than her current stage name, Song Ga-in. Introduced as being from Jisan-myeon, Jindo County, Jeollanam-do, she was active as a member of a theater troupe at the time and won the Grand Prize by demonstrating solid vocal skills and extraordinary stage presence.

In the archival footage, Song Ga-in exuded a much different, youthful atmosphere compared to her current self. While her youthful face and appearance from her younger years drew attention, her singing ability was exceptional even then. It was a moment that showed the potential for her to grow into a "trot queen" who would later gain nationwide popularity.

Park Sung-hoon, who watched Song Ga-in as a judge at the time, recalled the discovery process. "She appeared as Cho Eun-sim at the Jindo singing contest in 2010. She was good," he said, sharing his impression of the stage at that time. He further explained, "I told someone who goes back and forth to Jindo to contact that young lady, and she debuted in 2010." This story details how a talented participant who stood out on a local singing contest stage caught the interest of a composer, leading to a subsequent debut as a singer.

In addition to Song Ga-in, the names of other singers discovered or involved in the debut process by Park Sung-hoon were mentioned. When announcer Park Cheol-gyu asked, "Who else have you discovered?", Park Sung-hoon replied, "I also made Ahn Seong-hun debut." He also mentioned Joo Hyun-mi, explaining, "Joo Hyun-mi debuted early, but while she was working as a pharmacist, her singing career was at a standstill. I don't know her debut song, but 'Couples Party' became a huge hit."

Even for Song Ga-in, who is now a star with numerous fans, there was a time 16 years ago when she stood on local stages to make her name known. The "National Singing Contest" stage, where she won the Grand Prize appearing as Cho Eun-sim, served as an important starting point in her career as a singer. The past footage revealed through the broadcast allowed for a reflection on the star's glamorous present, the long period of time behind it, and the insight of a composer who recognized a person's potential.

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