SM Rookies

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.[5] On January 26th, Taeil released the song “Because Of You” for the soundtrack of the series The Merchant: Gaekju 2015. In April 2016, the agency confirmed Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark as members of NCT's first subgroup, NCT U.[6] In July 2016, the agency also confirmed Yuta, WinWin and Donghyuck (now known as Haechan) as members of NCT's second subgroup, NCT 127.[7] In August 2016, the agency confirmed Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung as members of NCT's third subgroup, NCT Dream.[8][9] 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 The Unit.

In January 2018, NCT unveiled a "large scale project" for the year called 'NCT 2018'[10] and some members were seen in Ukraine filming a music video for a possible comeback.[11][12] SM Rookie members Jungwoo and Lucas were spotted alongside other NCT members in the airport en route to the said country.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

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

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

• SM Town Week (2013) (as opening act)
  • Taeil, Hansol, Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Jaehyun, Jeno, Haechan, Jisung, Yongju
• SM Town Live World Tour IV (2014–2015)
  • Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Yeri, Koeun, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Hina, Jaemin, Jisung, Herin, Winny, Jeesu
• SM Rookies Show (2015–2016)
  • Taeil, Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Jisung