Ryeowook won the 2004 Chin Chin Youth Festival singing competition and became a trainee just two months before debut in 2005. Siwon became a trainee after being scouted in 2003. In 2002, Heechul and Kangin were recruited along with Kibum, who was discovered in Los Angeles, California by a casting agent. Sungmin and Donghae became trainees after jointly winning first place in an SM-sponsored contest in 2001. That same year, Leeteuk, Yesung, and Eunhyuk were recruited after auditioning for the company's annual casting system in Seoul. In 2000, SM Entertainment held their first overseas casting auditions in Beijing 101, China and recruited Han Geng, who auditioned against three thousand applicants. Musical career 2000–2005: Formation and debut