SMRookies

SMRookies (Korean: 에스엠루키즈, stylized as SMROOKIES) is a pre-debut training program established in late-2013 by South Korean music record label, S.M. Entertainment. SMROOKIES consists of young SM trainees who haven't yet debuted, whether it is an idol group or solo artist. Even though they are still trainees, the SMRookies members are very famous and they have even appeared at various events before they officially debuted as idols. SMRookies have taken part in SMTOWN shows as part of their promotions before graduation in order to develop themselves for their debut.

The first batch of rookies; Irene, Seulgi, Wendy debuted as members of the girl group Red Velvet in 2014 (Yeri in 2015). The second batch: most of the SMRookies Boys debuted as members of the boy group NCT which consisted of various subunits, its first subgroup NCT U, debuted in April 2016, followed by its second subgroup, NCT 127 in July 2016, and its third subgroup, NCT Dream in August 2016, and its fourth and final subgroup, WayV on January 2019. The last rookie, Ningning debuted on November 17, 2020, as a member of the girl group aespa.

## History

### 2013: Formation:

On November 30, 2013, SMRookies's logo was posted on their Facebook account,[8] on December 2nd, 2013, SM announced Seulgi, Taeyong, & Jeno as the first three members,[1][8] on December 9th, Irene, Jaehyun, & Lami were introduced.[4][8] On the 16th, Hansol, Mark, & Jisung were introduced,[3] followed by Johnny, Yuta, & Ten on the 23rd.[4][4][8] In December 2013, SM Rookie Boys participated in the opening performance of the SMTOWN WEEK concert.[8][8]

### 2014: Rookie Station, debuts of Red Velvet:

In January 2014, Irene, Seulgi, Johnny & Taeyong appeared in 'The Celebrity magazine. 2014.02.[8][8] Later that month, Irene, Seulgi & Taeyong return to 'OhBoy!' Magazine.[8][8] On March 13, 2014, Wendy was introduced to the song "Because I Love You" for the soundtrack of the series Mimi.[8]  On March 19th, a video of Wendy singing the song "Speak Now" by Taylor Swift was released.[8][8] In April of the same year, the agency announced the opening of their website with a video teaser uploaded onto its official YouTube channel featuring members Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Taeyong, Mark.[8][8] Later on SM launched the official website of the project (which is currently gone). 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[8][8]. Followed by Irene, Seulgi & Wendy appearing in a Maps Magazine.[8] Donghyuck was later introduced as an official member on July 17, 2014,[8][8] followed by Taeyong performing a short rap song "Open The Door" on July 21st.[8] Later that month, Mark, & Donghyuck were featured in the first video of the "Rookie Station" where they introduce their SMRookies website[8] Later that month, the agency confirmed Irene, Seulgi & Wendy alongside labelmate Joy as Red Velvet members.[8][8] On August 14, new SMRookies Girl Yeri was featured in the third video of the "Rookie Station" alongside Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Mark, Jeno, & Donghyuck.[8][8] On August 21, they released the four videos of the "Rookies Station", an SMTown Live Special.[8] Later that month, a video of Hansol, Johnny, & Taeyong dancing to the instrumental song "Super Moon" under the name of SR14B was released.[8][8] Followed by the fifth video of "Rookies Station" was released, a Jisung Special.[8] On September 16, 2014, the sixth video of the "Rookie Station" was released, featuring members Johnny, Yuta, Ten, & Jaehyun.[8] On October 9, 2014, Taeyong was featured in Red Velvet's single "Be Natural" as SR14B's Taeyong.[8][8] On November 4, they released a Halloween special video for the "Rookies Station".[8] In December 2014, they released some Christmas photos.[8]

### 2014: new Red Velvet member, SMRookies projects:

On January 15, 2015, Doyoung was introduced[8][8] as he and Jaehyun were to become the new MCs on MBC Music's Show Champion.[8][8] On February 19, 2015, Johnny, Yuta, & Ten & Lami released their Lunar New Year greetings.[8] Later that month, a report about Red Velvet filming a music video with trainee Yeri was leaked online.[8] The following month, SM introduced Yeri and was announced to debut as the fifth member of Red Velvet.[8][8] On March 6, Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Ten, & Jaehyun danced to the song "Bassot'' under the name of SR15B was released.[8][8] Jaemin was introduced as an official member on April 22, 2015,[8] after being featured in many SMRookies events. In June 2015, Ten, & Jaehyun competed in the Hope Basketball All-Star.[8][8] Later that month, SMRookies were featured in News 'Korean Pop Idols Rule Asia' featuring Mark giving a short talk.[8][8] On July 9, 2015, Koeun, Hina & Herin were introduced as official members,[8][8] as they were to become "Mouseketeers'' on Disney Channel Korea's The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Mark, Jeno, Donghyuk, Jaemin, Jisung and Lami, which will include musical performances, games & skits.[8][8][8] Later that month, they appeared in the "Ceci'' magazine.[8][8][8] On July 23, SM announced a concert for the male members titled SMRookies Show.[8][8][23] On July 30, a video of Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Ten, & Jaehyun performing a dance routine, under the name of SR15B was released.[8] On September 28, 2015, Yuta participated in the " MBC Idol Star Games " Mid-Autumn Festival special for the first time, replacing the injured SHINee Minho in a five-a-side football event.[8] On October 13, 2015, Taeil was announced as an official member after being featured in SMRookies events.[8][8] In November 2015, The SMRookies Girls: Koeun, Hina, Herin and Lami performed a dance in a video "ROOKIES ENTERTAINMENT APP LAUNCHING".[8] Later on December 22, 2015, Lami, Hina, and fellow trainee Park Jungyeon appeared in the Winter Garden 2015 promotional video teasers. On December 18, 2015, Kun was introduced.[8]

### 2016: Debuts of NCT:

On January 5, 2016, Winwin was introduced.[8] Later that month, Taeil released the song "Because Of You'' for the soundtrack of the series The Merchant: Gaekju 2015.[8]Later that month, SM founder Lee Soo-man delivered a presentation at the SM Coex Artium, titled "SMTOWN: New Culture Technology 2016." The label's plan was to debut a new boy group with an "unlimited" number of members with their "culture contents" strategy.[5] On January 28, they released a video called "SM\_NCT#1 Origin",[8] & another video called "SM\_NCT#2 Synchronization of your dreams" where Taeyong, Hansol, Ten, Mark, and Jaehyun performed a dance, there was a song teaser vocal by Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Mark, & Haechan.[8][8] On February 1, 2016, a video called "SM\_NCT#3 7th Senses" where Winwin performed a traditional chinese dance to a chinese theme was released.[8] On February 9, 2016, Yuta once again participated in the football project in the Spring Festival special of " MBC Idol Star Games ". In March 2016, he featured in april issues of the magazine "The Celebrity".[8]Later that month, Johnny, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, & Jaehyun appeared on the Thai edition of Seventeen magazine,[8] followed by Taeyong in SK Telecom performing a dance.[8] On April 3, 2016, Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, and Mark were confirmed to debut as members of NCT's first sub-unit, NCT U.[8][8][8] Later that month, Koeun, Hina & Lami danced to Girls Generation's song "Gee" at SM Coex Artium.[8][8] On July 1, 2016, Yuta, Winwin and Donghyuck (now officially known as Haechan) were confirmed to debut as members of NCT's second unit, NCT 127 On August 18, 2016, Jeno, Jaemin, and Jisung alongside labelmate Renjun & Chenle were confirmed to debut as members of NCT's third unit, NCT Dream.[8][8] On September 19, 2016, Yiyang and Ningning were introduced[8] as they were to become stars on the Youku show My SMT Who's The Best alongside Koeun & Hina. In October 2016, Johnny was a DJ for SM Dreamstation Crew at the Spectrum Dance Music Festival with other SM artists.[8][8][8][8] In November 2016, Hansol did a dance to Kehlani’s Gangsta. In December 2016, Johnny were confirmed to debut as members of NCT's 2nd unit, NCT 127.

### 2017: New members, instagram:

On April 5, 2017, Lucas was introduced,[8][8] later that month, he appeared in the NCT's Ten - Dream In A Dream's music video,[8][8] followed by a photoshoot sketch on April 11th.[8][8] On April 17, 2017, Jungwoo was introduced,[8][8] later that month, he alongside Koeun appeared in Super Junior's Yesung "Paper Umbrella"'s music video,[8] followed by a photoshoot sketch on May 11th.[8][8] On May 13, 2017, Kun, Jungwoo & Lucas announced SMRookie's official Instagram account.[8][8] In late June 2017, Herin was confirmed as a contestant of Mnet's show, Idol School,[8][8] leading to her departure from SMRookies and SM Entertainment.[8][8] On October 1, 2017, Hansol left SMRookies and SM Entertainment,[8] & participated as a contestant in the upcoming KBS's survival show, The Unit.[8][8]

### 2018: WayV's debut, and culmination of the project:

In January 2018, Kun, Jungwoo & Lucas were confirmed to debut as members of NCT in the project NCT 2018 Empathy album.[8][8] On July 17, 2018, three male Chinese trainees, Xiaojun, Hendery, and YangYang were introduced.[8][8] In September 2018, Xiaojun, Hendery, and YangYang each had a photoshoot sketch to show off their visuals & did introduction video.[8] Later that month, it was confirmed that Yiyang had left SM Entertainment and returned to China to join the idol competition show The Next Top Bang.[8] On December 30, 2018, Xiaojun, Hendery, and YangYang were confirmed to debut as members of NCT's Chinese sub-unit, WayV.[8][8]

### 2019:

SMRookies has been inactive.

2020: Member departures and formation of Aespa:

In February 2020, it was reported that Koeun and Lami had left SM Entertainment, which was later confirmed with the removal of their names from Korean portal sites on February 24.[8][8] Hina was also confirmed to have left SM Entertainment on October 15, 2020 after opening her personal Instagram account.[8] On October 29, 2020, Ningning was confirmed to debut as the third members of girl group, Aespa.[8][8] Among the team's thirty official members, twenty-four of them have made their official debut while the remaining six have left SM Entertainment, thus putting an end to the pre-debut team.

### Former Rookies

Template:Col-begin

* Hansol (한솔)
* Herin (헤린)
* Yiyang (이양 / 藝洋)

Template:Col-2

* Hina (하나 / なかむら ひな)
* Koeun (고은)
* Lami (라미/김성경)

## Discography

#### Official Songs

* "Because I Love You" by Wendy (2014)
* "Butterfly" by Henry featuring Seulgi (2014)
* "Be Natural" By Red Velvet ft. Taeyong (2014)
* Because Of You By Taeil (2016)
* Without You (Chinese version) by NCT U with Kun
* Switch by NCT 127 featuring SR15B

## Trivia

* In the mv Happiness, 7 SM Rookies girls (Including Yeri) appeared in the the intro. The girls included : Lami : yellow dress, Jeesu : green dress, Herin : orange dress, Koeun : black dress, Winny : blue dress, Hina : purple dress, Yeri : red dress

## External links

* Official Facebook
* Official Instagram
* Official Twitter