Ryu Deok-hwan Reveals He Almost Debuted with G-Dragon in a K-Pop Idol Group

On the latest episode of SBS’s popular variety program ‘틈만 나면’, which aired on June 13, actor Ryu Deok-hwan made a surprising revelation—he almost debuted in an idol group with none other than G-Dragon.

The show, which airs every Tuesday at 9 PM, presents quick moments of joy by exploring spontaneous, everyday slices of life. The Season 3 premiere on June 6 achieved record-breaking ratings, topping Tuesday entertainment slots in key demographics such as households in the Seoul metro area and the lucrative 2049 audience segment, according to Nielsen Korea.

In episode 22, Ryu Deok-hwan and actress Lee Jung-eun roamed the Wangsimni area, delivering what the producers call “dopamine healing.” During their time together, Ryu shared that he originally started his career as a B-boy and had even performed with G-Dragon when they were both part of a junior group modeled after H.O.T., dubbed “Little H.O.T.”

“Back then, I performed on stage at an SM Entertainment concert,” he said. “Eventually, we both moved to YG Entertainment.” He jokingly added, “These days, I can’t really dance anymore. My joints are stiff. My wife saw me dance once and told me never to say I could dance in public.”

Host Yoo Jae-suk expressed regret, saying, “You probably would’ve done well in that path, too.” But Ryu responded that acting had always come first. “At the time, The Rural Diary was my priority,” he said, referring to the legendary Korean drama. “I played the grandson of the late actress Kim Soo-mi’s character and the son of Il-yong.”

Ryu also acknowledged having a bit of a “celebrity syndrome” after rising to fame at a young age due to the success of the film 천하장사 마돈나. “Looking back, I think I kind of came down with a star complex,” he admitted. Yoo Jae-suk empathized with him, saying, “It happens to everyone.” Lee Jung-eun chimed in with her own confession, “When I go to the hospital, I take my mask off right away—I want people to recognize me.”

These heartwarming and humorous revelations from Ryu and Lee are only a glimpse of what’s in store on ‘틈만 나면.’ The feel-good variety show continues to charm audiences every Tuesday night on SBS.