Recently, an interview with SHINee’s Key went viral online as he shared his experience within the SM training system.
He revealed that during his training period, the company would discuss the lessons required for each trainee, creating a customized plan tailored to each individual.
Kibum explained that the SM training system in his era was like this:
they’d discuss what lessons each trainee needs, so each would have different lessons set (e.g: A has chinese class, acting class, singing, etc; B has singing class, japanese class, etc) pic.twitter.com/5Rfxlk3C6e
— 까마귀 🐦⬛🐦⬛ (@retrotesque) January 7, 2026
In his case, although he wanted to learn English, he was assigned to Chinese lessons, and he still remembers some phrases to this day!
Kibum had a Chinese lesson & apparently remembers what he learnt
🦊 I was always interested in English, but they didn’t take me to english lesson
🦊 I took Chinese lesson instead
🦊 (smoothly reciting & recalling)
🦊 I still remember? 🤷
😂 I love his accent tho https://t.co/Taaf9PEOOb pic.twitter.com/chHC4qmzpY
— 까마귀 🐦⬛🐦⬛ (@retrotesque) January 7, 2026
He also revealed that he felt that he needed the training they provided, as it started from the basics.
I think I really needed it. I only dance in my own way in school, but after learning the basics, I can now dance all genres.
— Key
SM trained their trainees started from “ground zero”. the trainees’ existing ideas were “stripped” so they can really learn from the basic
🦊 I really needed it. I only danced in schools and only “in my way” before but after they taught me the basics, I can dance all genres https://t.co/Taaf9PEOOb pic.twitter.com/yXB4qcg36M
— 까마귀 🐦⬛🐦⬛ (@retrotesque) January 7, 2026
Netizens agreed that this was the best way to train potential stars.
As they should. Learn the basics of basics then get introduced to all types of genres then work from there, now I know why many of the industry best dancers are from there, Eunhyuk, Kai, taemin, Tayong, Ten, just to mention a few. https://t.co/1TxH9NBRh1
— ItGoesDownDownBaby (@kh_REVERXE_Foha) January 8, 2026
I’ve been thinking this siaaa. After seeing generations of sm idol. Why they got pretty people. They want the ground zero starter https://t.co/xOxRSRZHXM
— 🥟 (@tearsdntfal1) January 8, 2026
taemin and daesung also spoke about the difference between sm and yg style of training and i find all this very fascinating. even in aespa’s and gd’s conversation this came up. standardized versus find your own one thing quick and now!! pic.twitter.com/lTiIlcuRPw https://t.co/8uiXq7JDxW
— em ❀ (@kalamaleila) January 8, 2026