SM Entertainment‘s upcoming boy group is finally taking shape. Meet The 1st Member
As with previous groups, SM Entertainment has often introduced trainees before their official debuts through SM Rookies. In recent years, members of NCT, aespa, and RIIZE were all part of SM Rookies before making their official debuts.
Last year, the company introduced a large number of trainees with SMTR25, short for SM Rookies 2025.
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This move made sense, as the company had already announced plans to debut a new boy group member later this year. However, the members have remained a secret, at least until now.
On March 4, the Director of SM Entertainment’s Artist Development Center, Yoon Hee Jun, appeared on the show, where she spoke about various groups and revealed new backgrounds.
At one point in the show, while discussing training periods, she mentioned that a trainee who had been training for nine years would be debuting this year.
유퀴즈 #송하 pic.twitter.com/pPdYWviM2R
— sing (@SMTR25_songha) March 4, 2026
Of the known SM Rookies, 21-year-old Songha matches this description having said so himself that he had been training for the past nine years.
| SM Entertainment
songha: if i debut… because i’ve been training for 9 years, i think i will cry.
let’s debut soon lee songha 🥹 pic.twitter.com/6ovBStuX9T
— 🦈 (@twentiedfour) March 4, 2026
While it could be another trainee, the usage of Songha’s clip in the show has all but confirmed his debut in the new group. Fans have reacted accordingly, expressing excitement over Songha’s long-awaited debut.
🎤: does it take 3~5 years for a trainee to debut?
👩: on average, i think so. the shortest case is about 1 year, there was someone who debuted after just 1 year. but among the trainees debuting this year, there’s someone who has been a trainee for 9 years.
🎤: a trainee for 9… pic.twitter.com/apusDOQat7
— 📁 (@leesonghafiles) March 4, 2026
The future leader of SMNBG, Songha 🥺 https://t.co/ee2mls3ove
— ‘ (@sadahiaru) March 4, 2026
The leader of the rookie project team has confirmed that Songha will debut THIS year.😎#송하 #SONGHA #SMTR25pic.twitter.com/U2pDK58vuB
— prpr_ata (@songha040126) March 4, 2026