Predebut: SM Rookies Era
2013
The year is 2013 and SM Entertainment announces the SM Rookies project.
On December 2nd SM announces Seulgi and Kyungsoo as the first members of SM Rookies.
The plans are to debut two groups, a girl group and a boy group. The idea for the boy group is to find the 11 trainees with the most potential and figure out who would suit the other members well too.
Link to the art for the characters: https://imgur.com/gallery/ceT1M5z
Name: Kim Kyungsoo
Birthday: May 12th, 1995
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Place of Birth: Daejeon, South Korea
Height: 184cm
Weight: 63kg
Blood Type: AB
Kyungsoo Facts:
- Specialty: Rap and Dance
- Hobbies: Dancing, cooking and watching crime TV shows
- Strengths: great leadership, decisiveness, caring towards his juniors
- Weaknesses: doesn’t understand sarcasm
- Favorite Number: 12
- Favorite Artist: Kanye West
- Favorite Animal: Wolf
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2007
-Kyungsoo’s ideal type:“Someone who is caring and will tell me when I’m doing something wrong.”
December 9th, 2013
SM announces that 4 more members will join SM Rookies with Kyungsoo and Seulgi.
On December 9th, 3 new members are introduced: Irene, Lami and Minjae.
Then, on December 16th, SM introduces the other two: Sunwoo and Yeonsik.
The rookies popularity is rising fast, SM starts working on building a website for the project.
Name: Cha Minjae
Birthday: September 7th, 1999
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Place of Birth: Daegu, South Korea
Height: 169cm
Weight: 58kg
Blood Type: A
Minjae Facts:
- Specialty: Singing
- Hobbies: Singing, sleeping, reenacting drama scenes
- Strengths: amazing singing ability, impressive high notes, very friendly and humble
- Weaknesses: slow learner, a little too selfless
- Favorite Number: 8
- Favorite Artist: Celine Dion
- Favorite Animal: Frog
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2010
-Minjae’s ideal type:“Someone who will love me for who I am”
Name: Kim Sunwoo
Birthday: January 2nd, 1998
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Place of Birth: Incheon, South Korea
Height: 175cm
Weight: 56kg
Blood Type: B
Sunwoo Facts:
- Specialty: Dance
- Hobbies: Learning new skills, playing videogames, taking walks at night
- Strengths: fast learner, always giving his best
- Weaknesses: reckless
- Favorite Number: 23
- Favorite Artist: Justin Timberlake
- Favorite Animal: Fox
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2012
-Sunwoo’s ideal type:“Someone that is cheerful and is very warm.”
Name: Seo Yeonsik
Birthday: September 26th, 1996
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Place of Birth: Gwangsu, South Korea
Height: 180cm
Weight: 66kg
Blood Type: A
Yeonsik facts:
- Specialty: Rap and Singing
- Hobbies: Listening to music, making people laugh, singing
- Strengths: great singing ability, moodmaker, positive personality
- Weaknesses: indecisive, stiff
- Favorite Number: 6
- Favorite Artist: Frank Sinatra
- Favorite Animal: Lion
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2010
-Yeonsik’s ideal type:“Someone that laughs at my jokes and someone that can help me stay focused.”
December 23rd, 2013
As 2013 is coming to a close, SM Entertainment had a great year and its groups Shinee, EXO, Girl’s Generation and Super Junior have all released songs in December. Amidst all the success and Christmas spirit, SM announces the last 2 members for SM Rookies of 2013.
Sunsoo and Haeseong are announced as part of SM Rookies on December 23rd.
Name: Kim Sunsoo
Birthday: October 14th, 1999
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Place of Birth: Ansan, South Korea
Height: 167cm
Weight: 51kg
Blood Type: A
Sunsoo facts:
- Specialty: Rap and Singing
- Hobbies: writing lyrics, playing baseball, playing videogames
- Strengths: charismatic, kind to his fellow trainees, confident
- Weaknesses: easily frustrated
- Favorite Number: 4
- Favorite Artist: Eminem
- Favorite Animal: Cat
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2011
-Sunsoo’s ideal type:“Someone that has a remarkable smile and a kind heart.”
Name: Yeon Haeseong
Birthday: December 4th, 1997
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Place of Birth: Sokcho, South Korea
Height: 185cm
Weight: 60kg
Blood Type: O
Haeseong Facts:
- Specialty: Dance
- Hobbies: Dancing, kickboxing, trying new combinations of clothing
- Strengths: incredible dancing, precise movements, teaches everyone without hesitation
- Weaknesses: stubborn
- Favorite Number: 18
- Favorite Artist: Super Junior
- Favorite Animal: Tiger
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2009
-Haeseong’s ideal type:“Someone who loves the cold and wants to go on trips with me.”
2014
We are finally in 2014, the year in which SM’s new girlband should debut. Fans are excited to see what trainees will be called up to the SM Rookies project and what such project will provide.
After a long wait, SM revealed new member Yeri on March, 11th and on March 13th, Wendy was introduced with the OST “Because Of You” for the drama Mimi.
SM Rookies website is finally launched and fans get to know the trainees better.
J-Min releases the MV for Shine starring SM Rookie member Haeseong.
SM announces the first chinese member to join SM Rookies on July 17th: Hanying.
Name: Jin Hanying
Birthday: February 21st, 1997
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Place of Birth: Shenzhen, Guandong, People’s Republic of China
Height: 173cm
Weight: 53kg
Blood Type: O
Hanying Facts:
- Specialty: Singing and Piano
- Hobbies: Painting, organizing his collections
- Strengths: very relaxed and peaceful, very dilligent
- Weaknesses: very impulsive
- Favorite Number: 3
- Favorite Artist: Adele
- Favorite Animal: Dove
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2012
-Hanying’s ideal type:“Someone who sings with me”
July 22nd, 2014
SM Rookies releases the Open The Door MV on July 22nd, starring Kyungsoo with his new stage name: Kyte.
Before July ends, SM announces yet two more members for the SM Rookies project on July 24th: Jihoon and Maxy.
The SM Rookies are also scheduled to perform at SMTOWN in Seoul in August.
Name: On Jihoon
Birthday: June 1st, 2001
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Place of Birth: Seoul, South Korea
Height: 171cm
Weight: 47kg
Blood Type: B
Jihoon Facts:
- Specialty: Dance
- Hobbies: Dancing, drawing, meeting new places
- Strengths: respects his seniors, very charismatic, always practicing
- Weaknesses: doesn’t know when to stop, very stubborn
- Favorite Number: 17
- Favorite Artist: Michael Jackson
- Favorite Animal: Dog
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2011
-Jihoon’s ideal type:He doesn’t have one.
Name: Thanapek Sumatra
Stage Name: Maxy
Birthday: November 25th, 1997
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Place of Birth: Lampang, Thailand
Height: 172cm
Weight: 52kg
Blood Type: AB
Maxy Facts:
- Specialty: Dance and Piano
- Hobbies: improving his dancing skills, photography, reading, skating
- Strengths: amazing dancer, always ready for anything, dilligent
- Weaknesses: naive
- Favorite Number: 9
- Favorite Artist: BoA
- Favorite Animal: Jackal
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2013
-Maxy’s ideal type:“Someone that has good skin and loves to travel.”
Inside SM
What goes on inside SM’s building? What is the atmosphere like?
The 9 male trainees who joined SM Rookies are training very intensely for their upcoming projects. All the while, the trainers are watching carefully which other 2 trainees could possibly join the rest for the upcoming boyband.
The special situation proposed for the next group is to build a group of eleven boys whose chemistry is off the charts. 11 trainees who would take the next step and show to the world how talented they are.
After being selected to be part of SM Rookies, the 9 trainees now only practice with each other, completely separated from the rest of the trainees with exception of the girl members of SM Rookies.
SM requests that following on Maxy’s and Kyte’s footsteps, the other members choose a stage name for themselves definitively.
After that we have:
Kyte (Kim Kyungsoo)
Minjae (Cha Minjae)
Sunwoo (Kim Sunwoo)
Syx (Seo Yeonsik)
Snap (Kim Sunsoo)
Haeseong (Yeon Haeseong)
Silk (Jin Hanying)
Chihun (On Jihoon)
Maxy (Thanapek Sumatra)
The trainees prepare for their performance in SMTOWN in Seoul.
The SM Rookies trainees can’t stop thinking about who the final 2 members could be.
August, 2014
To start August off, Red Velvet debuts as a 4 member group with the single Happiness.
The SM Rookies perform at SMTOWN in Seoul and are praised for a good showing.
On August 24th, SM Rookies feature members Kyte, Sunwoo and Haeseong in the MV for Super Moon.
The rookies go on to perform at SMTOWN in Tokyo for two days in October.
On October 9th, Red Velvet release their MV for Be Natural featuring Kyte.
SM Rookies put up performances in both SMTOWN in Shanghai and at the Korean Popular Culture Awards.
We come to the end of 2014 and no new trainee is added to SM Rookies. Despite that, the boys popularity keeps on rising.
2015
Here we are in 2015 ready to see what SM has in store for their golden trainees.
Halfway through January, SM announces that one new trainee will join SM Rookies.
On January 15th, SM Rookies announces its new member: Q.
Early in the year, Syx and Minjae are announced as hosts for Show Champion. They’ll be doing it for a few months.
Name: Hirai Maresuke
Stage Name: Q
Birthday: October 20th, 1996
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Place of Birth: Nagoya, Japan
Height: 177cm
Weight: 59kg
Blood Type: B
Q Facts:
- Specialty: Rap and Songwriting
- Hobbies: Writing song lyrics, writing novels, reading, playing basketball
- Strengths: very organized, great musicality, pursues his dreams
- Weaknesses: stiff
- Favorite Number: 0
- Favorite Artist: Arashi
- Favorite Animal: Snake
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2014
-Q’s ideal type:“Someone who tells me about their day and is very passionate about their dreams.”
March 6th, 2015
On March 6th, SM released the MV for Bassbot featuring SM Rookies members Kyte, Haeseong, Chihun, Maxy, Sunwoo and Snap.
Bassbot gained a lot of attention and center Haeseong became very popular. The song was also praised highly and fans really wanted to see a full version released.
By the end of March, SM Rookies performed at SMTOWN in Taiwan.
The excitement for the final member was reaching its peak in April and surely enough, SM decided who the final member would be.
On April 15th, Ichiro was introduced as the 11th and final boy member of SM Rookies.
Name: Furuta Ichiro
Stage Name: Ichiro
Birthday: April 13th, 1998
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Place of Birth: Yokohama, Japan
Height: 179cm
Weight: 59kg
Blood Type: O
Ichiro Facts:
- Specialty: Dance
- Hobbies: shopping for accessories, playing soccer, hanging out with friends
- Strengths: incredibly fast learner, amazing facial expressions, very friendly and approachable
- Weaknesses: clumsy, not confident in his own voice
- Favorite Number: 10
- Favorite Artist: TVXQ
- Favorite Animal: Panther
- Joined SM Entertainment in 2014
-Ichiro’s ideal type:“Someone who makes me feel at ease and loves me very much”
Final Steps
SM Entertainment has been deciding everything needed for their new boy group’s debut. Their name, their debut song, their concept and all that information. The only confirmation is that the 11 trainees who are part of SM Rookies will be the members of the upcoming group.
Starting July off, SM release the dance practice for 0701 starring the trainees Haeseong, Kyte, Sunwoo, Chihun, Maxy and Snap.
With excitement, SM announces that soon a SM Rookies concert will be held featuring the 11 male trainees.
During the month of July the SM Rookies perform in Japan as part of SMTOWN and members Haeseong and Maxy take part in The 8th Hope Basketball All Star 2015.
August comes by and the boys once again perform now this time at RCY National Camp. Excimente grows from the fans and people are getting really excited to see what type of group will come out of this project.
SM Rookies member Silk takes part in ISAC.
On August 15th, the SM Rookies perform their first ever concert and go on to perform until the end of the year in different countries and cities. Their popularity boosts incredibly.
After the whole SM Rookies Show tour, the trainee Silk takes part in an Abnormal Summit event and on December 31st, the SM Rookies hold a Year-End Pajama Party that warmed the hearts of many fans.
Endzone: Origin
2016 comes and founder Lee Soo-man holds a conference at the SM Coex Artium where he announces plans for the new boy group Endzone. Their concept is to take over the world with their varied styles and undeniable charisma.
As expected, the 11 SM Rookies trainees were confirmed to be the members for the group and their debut is expected for April.
On January 27th, the OST “Because Of You” performed by Minjae was released.
The teasers The Origin and Sychronization of your dreams for Endzone were released.
On January 28th, the app SM Rookies: Produce Your Rookie was launched.
Get ready for Endzone’s incoming debut!
