Pann: The truth about SM trainees



Post originally written by a former SM trainee: "SM trainees are put through monthly evaluations on team missions, personal traits (pronunciation, vocal skill), and character (number of stamps received for volunteer work). Trainees are then ranked from top to bottom and those ranked at the top will usually be sorted into a debut class to get ready with a team. Those that make it into the debut class are put through image making (character training) and any other things you need to make up for.



But of course, teams can be scrapped completely and sometimes trainees will stay behind while others, usually those ranked at the bottom, will naturally leave, no matter how pretty or handsome they are.



And the competition is extremely tough between trainees themselves considering how big of a company SM is. Trainees do compare you to others a lot but the trainees are harsher on one another. They all have the same goal in mind so it's inevitable. The ones still left in SM right now are absolute fiends when it comes to practice. The mini concert arena in the basement is practically their playing field and SM usually made us go home in the early morning for safety issues but kids will secretly stay behind and practice in the dark on the roof top, mini concert room, or the practice rooms. They'll then lie to one another saying they didn't practice at all.



There are a lot who fail to adjust and just give up. Everyone says they'll work hard as long as they get to be a trainee but it's actually brutal and half assing anything won't get you far, you'll end up walking out with your own two feet. A lot give up midway with school pressure and SM's rules coming down on them (SM doesn't let you date and manages your clothes).



With hundreds of trainees coming in after the success of SM's idol groups, the competition just gets tougher and tougher. You just end up watching other kids get eliminated and being anxious and nervous over your own position and rehearsing and rehearsing nonstop.



I'm sure other companies are like this and I myself gave up and quit midway but it's hard if you don't have the heart for it. Trainees eventually end up dropping out of school to focus entirely on singing and dancing.



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1. [+271, -180] So how did EXO's Sehun debut then? Can't sing or rap...



2. [+247, -120] How did Baekhyun get cast if SM cares about character? And if the monthly evaluations are that tough, how did Sehun pass them all and debut?



3. [+164, -4] Instead of checking their school records, they should check their internet history. And more than anything, they should check how desperate they are to be singers.



4. [+69, -2] How did that auction site scammer Taeyong debut



5. [+62, -2] SM followed Minho and Sehun around until they gave up and agreed... SM doesn't care who you are as long as you have the face they're looking for, they'll give you a spot anywhere they can.



6. [+62, -7] None of that matters when SM will cast anyone with the visual they want no matter how lacking in talent they are



7. [+34, -18] I admit I thought of Sehun when I read this since he can't sing or rap but he originally couldn't dance either but after much practice, he got to where he is now and the company saw that ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ as for Baekhyun, yeah, I don't know how he got in either and can't defend that..



8. [+32, -2] Yeah some members are lacking in talents but I'm sure SM saw star potential in them. They all end up being super popular, don't they? You can be pretty and sing the best but you're nothing if you don't have star potential or don't fit your team's image.



9. [+30, -1] I think it's the other way around. If you're so pretty or handsome that SM doesn't want to throw you away, they'll do whatever they can to give you some type of talent and make you fit.



10. [+28, -8] People are so harsh to Sehun. If you're so curious about how he got in, go call SM yourself instead of trembling on here about it.



11. [+29, -7] Don't act like these people are godly just for becoming trainees or debuting under SM. Look at Taeyong or Sehun. They both lack in areas and only landed debuts because they happened to be handsome.



12. [+23, -8] I think SM saw star potential in Sehun. He's receiving public love and interest right now because SM knew that he'd make it in the end. Like the OP said, it doesn't matter how visually attractive you are because SM will drop you if you they don't need you. Sehun couldn't sing, rap, or even dance at first but he still got cast and is a star now. SM probably saw something in him and debuted him for that reason.



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