Following the announcement last week that SM Entertainment will debut a new male idol group in 2016, rumors have abounded regarding the upcoming group.
On Thursday, SM Entertainment denied the most popular rumor, that 24 trainees from SM's pre-debut SM Rookies group will be debuting. SM Entertainment clarified that the company has no plans to debut any group larger than the 12 members EXO debuted with in 2012.
"We've tried all that we can with forming large groups," the rep told Korean media, according to Sports Chosun.
SM Entertainment's rep confirmed that there are numerous SM Rookies who are actively promoting, with the male trainees holding their own concert and others appearing on Korean version of the kids show "The Mickey Mouse Club" with Super Junior's Leeteuk.
The rep also clarified that the amount of members, which members, and the concept of the group have yet to be confirmed.
"Rumors about the [new] group members can be hurtful to members of SMRookies who are working hard to debut," said the rep.
The Sports Chosun held up SM Entertainment groups like EXO (12 members upon debut), Super Junior (15 members at their height including two Chinese members), and Girls' Generation (9 members upon debut) as prior attempts by SM Entertainment to make larger idol groups.
Following in SM Entertainment's footsteps, there have been numerous larger-than-life K-pop groups in recent years.
Members of SMRookies will debut in 2016.
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Tamar Herman is a multi-media journalist and the co-founder of KultScene. She is a freelance writer and copy editor, and has written for MTV Iggy, Noisey, and Paste Magazine.
