byun began training to be a singer at age 11. he had been influenced by rain—another k-pop idol who was most popular in the 2000s. he attended jungwon high school in bucheon. he was the lead singer of a band called coma (상태 상태) there. coma once won at a local music festival. kim hyun-woo (from a rock band called ) eventually gave the young byun piano lessons.