Most of the well-known trainees already left the company, but a few shining stars remain. SM Rookies—SM Entertai...
Most of the well-known trainees already left the company, but a few shining stars remain.
SM Rookies—SM Entertainment‘s pre-debut project to introduce trainees—was once filled with promising female stars. However, since Herin, Yiyang, Koeun, Lami, and Hina all departed, fans of the company are wondering just who will be in the upcoming new girl group’s lineup. Read on to meet the only three known and confirmed female trainees left at SM Entertainment.
>>> See more: SM Ent. To Debut New Girl Group “Aespa” In November
1. Jimin
Jimin (full name Yoo Jimin) is a 20-year-old unannounced SM Entertainment trainee.
According to reports, Jimin joined SM Entertainment in 2016 or 2017. Before becoming a trainee, she was a former ulzzang, popular on the internet for her beautiful visuals.
Jimin is also the female dancer who performed with SHINee Taemin for his “Want” comeback.
(Pre Debut) Yoo Jimin - Taemin's Want compilation #SMNEWGG
— AESPA THAILAND (SMNEWGG) (@AESPA_TH) October 15, 2020
©️owner pic.twitter.com/NkR1mWoO5C
Given her dance skills, many early fans are expecting her to be part of the new girl group’s dance line if she debuts.
However, Jimin became embroiled in controversy earlier this month when she was accused of making scathing comments about EXO, NCT, and even BTS. Shortly after, SM Entertainment denied all claims and told fans they’ve lodged lawsuits against those who spread the rumors.
2. Helen
Helen (full name Lee Hyejin) is a 17-year-old unannounced SM Entertainment trainee.
Helen was born in South Korea, but she moved to Brisbane, Australia at the age of four. She later returned to Seoul to pursue idol stardom, training at SL Studio Academy before auditioning for SM Entertainment.
Helen officially joined the company in December 2019. Three months early, she showed off her dance skills in a YouTube video for Pocket TV titled “How to Pass a K-Pop Audition Part 2”.
Unsurprisingly, if she debuts in SM Entertainment’s new girl group, fans expect she’ll also be part of the dance line.
3. Ningning
Ningning (full name Ning Yizhuo) is a 17-year-old SM Entertainment trainee who is part of SM Rookies.
Ningning joined SM Entertainment in 2016 and was revealed as an SM Rookies member in September of the same year. Born in Harbin, China, she’s the only known non-Korean trainee currently at the company.
Before joining the company, she competed on Zhejiang TV‘s Let’s Sing Kids. Allegedly, she’s a big fan of both NCT and BLACKPINK, biasing Renjun and Jennie respectively.
Alongside Jimin, Helen, and Ningning, SM Entertainment has several other rumored trainees—including three Thai girls named R-Jing, Plu, and Daisy. However, there is currently no confirmation on their status.
