Labels S.M. Entertainment Website smrookies.com Genre K-pop | Years active 2013 (2013)–present Associated acts SM TownRed VelvetNCT Record label S.M. Entertainment | |
 | ||
Similar NCT, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Doyoung, Yuta Nakamoto Profiles | ||
SM Rookies is a pre-debut training team established in 2013 produced by South Korean agency, S.M. Entertainment. SM Rookies comprises young trainees who have yet to debut in a pop group or as a solo act. The first batch of rookies debuted as members of the girl group Red Velvet in 2014. The second batch of rookies debuted as members of the boy group NCT which consisted of various subunits, its 1st subgroup NCT U, debuted in April 2016, its 2nd subgroup, NCT 127 in July 2016 and its 3rd subgroup, NCT Dream in August 2016.
Contents
2013–15: Formation and Red Velvet's Debut
SM Rookies was formally announced in early December 2013, featuring members Seulgi, Jeno and Taeyong. A few days later Irene, Jaehyun and Lami were introduced. Also in December the members Mark, Hansol, Jisung, Johnny, Ten, and Yuta were introduced.
Wendy was introduced in March 2014, playing the "Because Of You" song for the soundtrack of the series Mimi. In April of the same year S.M. launched the official website of the project. The agency announced the opening with a video teaser uploaded onto its official YouTube channel. Donghyuk and Jaemin was official introduced in the same months. In July 2014, the agency confirmed Irene, Wendy and Seulgi as members of the group Red Velvet. In August, a video of Johnny, Taeyong and Hansol dancing to the song "Super Moon" under the name of SR14B was released. In January 2015, Doyoung was introduced as he was to become a new MC on MBC Music Champion with Jaehyun. In July, Koeun, Hina and Herin was introduced. In October 2015, Taeil was introduced, and in December, Kun was introduced.
2016–present: NCT's Debut
In January 2016, WinWin was introduced. S.M. 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. 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 (now known as Haechan) 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. In September, 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.