Kim Yong Bin, who once rejected SHINee, is now the "Trot phenomenon" that makes Knet wake up!

The latest broadcast episode of "Man in the Mirror" on KBS has brought many surprises to the audience when revealing a little-known story about Kim Yong Bin – the winner of a prominent Trot music contest recently.

In a conversation with the guests, the male singer surprised the whole studio when he shared that he once received an invitation to join the idol group SHINee from Lee so Man himself – the founder of Korea's leading entertainment company, SM Entertainment.

"I turned down that offer because I was really passionate about Trot music," Kim Yong Bin frankly expressed. That brief but emotional sharing revealed a rare career choice in the Korean entertainment industry – where young artists often see joining a big idol group like SHINee as a golden door to fame. However, Kim decided to put aside that opportunity to pursue traditional music – a field that was considered picky about listeners, old and had little place in the younger generation.

Veteran MC Jun Hyun Moo could not hide his surprise at Kim Yong Bin's choice. In addition to his talent and special story, the male singer's appearance also received many compliments. "You have a very noble face – just like the appearance of an SM artist," Jun Hyun Moo commented, expressing surprise at Kim's charisma and bright appearance on stage.

Not stopping there, attention to Kim Yong Bin also spread on Korean social media platforms. Many viewers gave winged compliments to his handsome appearance, smooth white skin and attractive demeanor. Some typical comments such as: "He looks like a tycoon's son", "His skin is really so beautiful, I can't take my eyes off", or "He has the temperament of Onew (SHINee)" shows Kim's growing attraction to the public, especially the younger generation.

However, what makes Kim Yong Bin's story special is not only his appearance or curiosity about the invitation from SM, but his brave artistic choice. In the context of the Korean entertainment industry increasingly focusing on idols, where every young talent wants to be trained through the training furnaces of big companies, it is really a risky step for a young artist to actively choose the Trot path – a genre associated with a middle-aged audience – is really a risky step.

However, that risk has brought Kim Yong Bin sweet fruits. Not only did he win the first place in a popular music program, but he also made a miracle by maintaining the top position at the top of the youth voting chart for eight consecutive weeks – something that even the "king of Trot" Lim Young Woong has never done. This achievement is a clear testament to the change in the audience's musical tastes, as well as Kim's strong spread in the modern Trot music loving community.

Kim Yong Bin's story therefore does not stop at a musical phenomenon, but also becomes a symbol of the courage to go against the flow – daring to reject the paved path to follow the call of passion. He represents a new generation of Korean artists: who knows who he is, what he pursues, and is ready to persevere to the end, despite prejudiced barriers.

In the midst of the wave of idolization that is covering all sectors of the entertainment industry, Kim Yong Bin chooses a more traditional direction – but with a new spirit and his own identity. In the context that Trot music is gradually rejuvenating and regaining its position in the hearts of young audiences, Kim's journey is not only a personal mark but also a testament to the enduring vitality of old musical values that are inspiringly renewed.

Kim Yong Bin's choice not only affirms his unique artistic personality, but also strongly inspires those who are at a crossroads in life – between safety and passion, between trends and personal values.

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