SM Rookies


SM Rookies were a pre-debut training team created by South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment in 2013. It comprises young trainees who have yet to debut in an idol group. The project has yielded artists such as Red Velvet and NCT.

History

2013–17: Formation, debuts of Red Velvet and NCT

SM Rookies was formally announced on December 2nd, 2013, featuring members Seulgi, Jeno and Taeyong. On December 9th, Irene, Jaehyun and Lami were introduced. On December 16th, the members Mark, Hansol, and Jisung were introduced, followed by Johnny, Ten, and Yuta on the 23rd.
Wendy was introduced on March 13, 2014, with the song "Because Of You" for the soundtrack of the series Mimi. On March 19th, a video of Wendy singing the song “Speak Now” by Taylor Swift was released. In April of the same year, SM launched the official website of the project. The agency announced the opening with a video teaser uploaded onto its official YouTube channel. On July 16, a dance performance video of Irene and Seulgi dancing to the song "Be Natural" by S.E.S. was released under the name SR14G. Donghyuck was later introduced on July 17, 2014. on July 21, Taeyong released a short song “Open The Door”. On July 22, Mark and Donghyuck were featured in the first video of the "Rookie Station".
Later that month, the agency confirmed Irene, Wendy, and Seulgi as members of the group Red Velvet. On August 14, trainee Yeri was featured in the third video of the "Rookie Station" alongside Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Mark, Jeno, and Donghyuck. On the 21st, They released the four videos of the “Rookies Station”, an SMTown Live Special.
On August 24th, a video of Johnny, Taeyong, and Hansol dancing to the song "Super Moon" under the name of SR14B was released.
On September 16, 2014, the six videos of the “Rookie Station” was released, featuring members Johnny, Yuta, Ten, and Jaehyun.
On October 9, 2014, Taeyong was featured in Red Velvet’s single “Be Natural”.
On January 16, 2015, Doyoung was introduced as him, and Jaehyun were to become new MCs on MBC Music's Show Champion. In February, a report about Red Velvet filming a music video with trainee Yeri was leaked online. The following month, SM Entertainment formally introduced Yeri and was announced to debut as the fifth member of Red Velvet immediately. On March 6, 2015, Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Ten, & Jaehyun dancing to the song “Bassbot” under the name of SR15B was released. After months of being featured in various SM Rookies events, Jaemin was formally introduced in April 2015. On July 8, 2015, Koeun, Hina, & Herin were introduced as they were to become mouseketeers on Disney Channel Korea’s The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Mark, Jeno, Donghyuck, Jaemin, Jisung, and Lami.
On July 26, they announced the SMRookies Show.
On July 30, a video of Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Ten, & Jaehyun performing a dance, under the name of SR15B was released. On October 13, 2015, Taeil was introduced after being featured in SM Rookies events. and on December 18, 2015, Kun was introduced. Later that month On December 22, 2015, Lami, Hina, & other trainee Jungyeon showed up together in Winter Garden 2015.
On January 5, 2016, WinWin was introduced. SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man announced plans for a new boy group that would be debuting with different teams based in different countries around the world. On January 26th, Taeil released the song “Because Of You” for the soundtrack of the series. In April 2016, the agency confirmed Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark as members of NCT's first subgroup, NCT U. In July 2016, the agency also confirmed Yuta, WinWin and Donghyuck as members of NCT's second subgroup, NCT 127. In August 2016, the agency confirmed Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung as members of NCT's third subgroup, NCT Dream.
On September 19, 2016, Yiyang and Ningning were introduced to the public. In December 2016, the agency confirmed Johnny as the new member of NCT's Seoul-based unit, NCT 127.
On April 5, 2017, Lucas was introduced. On April 17, Jungwoo was introduced.
On late June 2017, Herin was confirmed as a contestant of Mnet's survival show, Idol School, leading to her departure from the pre-debut team and SM Entertainment. Hansol followed suit in October, and he participated as a contestant in the upcoming KBS survival show .

2018: New NCT members, WayV and members departure

In January 2018, NCT unveiled a "large scale project" for the year called 'NCT 2018' and some members were seen in Ukraine filming a music video for a possible comeback. SM Rookie members Jungwoo and Lucas were spotted alongside other NCT members in the airport en route to the said country.
On January 30, SM Entertainment confirmed the upcoming debut of the remaining SM Rookies members Kun, Lucas, and Jungwoo through the video NCT 2018 Yearbook #1.
On February 13, it was revealed that Lucas and Jungwoo would be making their official debut through NCT U's comeback single "Boss" alongside members Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, and Mark. The music video for "Boss" was released on February 18.
On July 17, 2018, three male Chinese trainees, Hendery, Xiaojun, and Yangyang, were introduced. On October 1, 2018, it was confirmed that Yiyang has left SM Entertainment and returned to China to join the idol competition show The Next Top Bang.
On December 31, 2018, SM Entertainment announced the debut of Hendery, Xiaojun and Yangyang as members of the NCT's Chinese sub-unit, WayV.
In February 2020, it was reported that Koeun and Lami had left SM Entertainment and later were confirmed with the removal of their names from Naver profile pages on February 24.

Current members

Adapted from the team's Naver and Daum profiles.
Stage NameCountry/RegionDate IntroducedAssociated act
Hina / July 8, 2015SR20G
Ningning September 19, 2016SR20G

Former members

Debuted members

Former members

Stage NameReal NameCountryDate introducedNotes
Herin Herin SeoIn July 2017, it was confirmed that Herin left the pre-debut team and SM Entertainment after being introduced as a contestant of Mnet's survival show, Idol School, which only individual trainees participate in. After the program, Herin has not been involved with any entertainment activities.
Hansol Ji Hansol On October 1, 2017, it was confirmed that Hansol left SM Entertainment and had signed with J-FLO Entertainment, he then was introduced as a participant in the new KBS survival show . After getting sixth place on the show, Hansol debuted with the project group UNB. After UNB's disbandment, he later debuted in J-FLO's boy group, Newkidd, in 2019.
Yiyang Xu Yiyang In September 2018, rumors of Yiyang leaving SM Entertainment to join a survival reality show surfaced on Weibo. On September 19, 2018, two years after she was introduced as an SM Rookies member, she has posted on her Weibo account that she is "thankful for the people who waited for her" and that she is "looking forward to a new start." On October 1, 2018, she was confirmed to have returned to China signing to L Tao Entertainment and joined the Chinese idol survival program The Next Top Bang. She was a contestant on Produce Camp 2020, where she placed eighth and did not make it to the final group. She debuted with her first single, "Listen," in July 2020.
Lami Kim Sungkyung December 9, 2013In February 2020, Koeun and Lami were rumored to have left SM Entertainment. This was further confirmed with the removal of their names from Korean web portals as well as Lami opening her personal Instagram account. It is currently unknown whether the two members will still pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Koeun Ko Eun July 8, 2015In February 2020, Koeun and Lami were rumored to have left SM Entertainment. This was further confirmed with the removal of their names from Korean web portals as well as Lami opening her personal Instagram account. It is currently unknown whether the two members will still pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Filmography

Television shows

Discography

Official releases

Songs recorded

Names in italics indicate other participated trainees at the time of the event.
SongMemberYearOther performerNote
"Be Natural"Irene, Seulgi, Wendy2014JoySung originally by S.E.S., later released as a single and credited under the name Red Velvet.
"Open the Door"Taeyong2014
"Bora-bit Hyanggi "Yeri, Koeun, Hina, Herin, Jeesu, Winny '
Koeun, Hina, Herin, Lami '		2014
2015		Sung originally by Kang Su-ji, performed in SM Town Live World Tour IV and on the TV program Mickey Mouse Club.
"No No No No No"Yeri, Koeun, Hina, Herin, Jeesu, Winny '
Koeun, Hina, Lami '		2014
2015		Sung originally by Ha Su-bin, performed in SM Town Live World Tour IV and on the TV program Mickey Mouse Club.
"Hope"Doyoung, Jaehyun, Johnny2014Chen Sung originally by H.O.T., cover song for the TV program ', SM Town band instrumental version.
"I'm Your Girl"Yeri, Koeun, Hina, Jeesu, Winny, Herin, Mark, Haechan2014Sung originally by S.E.S., cover song for the TV program Exo 90:2014
"Majimak Seungbu "Taeil2014Sung originally by Kim Min-gyo, cover song for the TV program Exo 90:2014
"Yeoreum An-eseo "Koeun2014Seulgi Sung originally by Deux, cover song for the TV program Exo 90:2014
"Under the Sea"Doyoung, Jaehyun, Yuta, Ten, Mark, Haechan, Jaemin, Jeno, Jisung '
Koeun, Hina, Lami, Herin, Mark, Haechan, Jaemin, Jeno, Jisung '		2015
2016		Korean version sung originally by The Grace, Super Junior, and Zhang Liyin; performed in the SM Rookies Show and Mickey Mouse Club
"Shining Star"Koeun, Hina, Ningning2017Song for the TV program Shining Star
"Dream Dream Dream"Koeun, Hina, Lami ', Yiyang, Ningning '2017Song for the TV program Shining Star
"Checkmate"Koeun, Hina, Lami ', Yiyang, Ningning '2017Sung originally by Girls' Generation-TTS, cover song for the TV program Shining Star
"Into the New World"Koeun, Hina, Lami ', Yiyang, Ningning '2017Sung originally by Girls' Generation, cover song for the TV program Shining Star
"Ice Cream"Koeun, Hina, Lami ', Yiyang, Ningning '2017Sung originally by f, cover song for the TV program Shining Star
"Run & Run"Koeun, Hina, Lami ', Yiyang, Ningning '2017Song for the TV program Shining Star
"Someday"Koeun, Hina, Lami ', Yiyang, Ningning 2018Song for the TV program Shining Star

Concerts

Concert participation

Names in italics indicate other participated trainees at the time of the event.