History(Pre-debut)

Pre-debut

Before Big Bang debuted, each member had his own degree of success and popularity in the entertainment industry. G-Dragon and Tae Yang have been with YG Entertainment since they were both twelve years old, both known as GDYB back then (as Tae Yang's real name is Young Bae).Tae Yang appeared in Jinusean's music video "Ayo", as little Sean. However, both G-Dragon and Tae Yang performed "Ayo" as tiny versions of Jinu and Sean.T.O.P was well known as an underground hip-hop rapper while Seung-ri was first introduced to the entertainment industry through the show Let's Cokeplay Battle Shinhwa.The only one who perhaps was not known before the debut of Big Bang was Daesung.
In Summer 2006, M-net released an eleven episode documentary that showed the members in training before their debut as a group. The first six episodes detailed each individual member's background and motivation for becoming a singer. The documentary portrayed the arduous process of training by showing their dancing and singing practice sessions. Beyond being just an entertaining television show, it was an actual elimination process of candidates unfit for debut. Two members, SO-1 and Seungri (Lee SeungHyun) were considered for elimination, but they were given second chances to showcase their abilities in singing, dancing, and performing. Yet this resulted in Yang Hyun Suk (CEO of YG Entertainment)dropping SO-1 because he lacked stage presence and was "too shy".On the other hand, Seungri was able to successfully impress Yang with his dancing and singing skills; thus, making the group. This documentary made the group members even more popular before their debut in the Korean entertainment industry as Big Bang.
While many boy bands at the time were typically marketed as "cute" singers, the producer of YG Entertainment wanted a band to eclipse the popularity of "cute" singers and have a boy band that could "actually sing."Before debuting as "Big Bang", the members suggested various names, such as "Apex", "Stump," and "Diamond".To celebrate the end of the trials, Yang gave them each a custom pendant.Big Bang made their official debut at the YG Family concert, held on August 19, 2006 at the Gymnastics Arena in Seoul Olympic Park.