SM Entertainment is known for having an eye for the best visuals. These fifteen idols who were street cast by recruiters and casting agents from the company definitely prove it!
1. EXO's Suho
Suho was street cast by SM Entertainment in 2006 when he was just sixteen years old. He was discovered on the streets by an SM casting manager. He signed with the company and made his first public appearance in 2007 with a cameo role in the Super Junior film "Atack on the Pin-Up Boys". He debuted in 2012 as EXO-K's leader and is now the leader of EXO as a whole group.
2. f(x)'s Krystal
In 2000, Krystal was scouted by SM Entertainment when she was just five years old while she and her family were in South Korea for a family trip. She ended up making a cameo in Shinhwa's music video for "Wedding March". Though offered a chance to sign with the company right there and then, her parents thought she was too young and only let Krystal's older sister Jessica sign with the company. In 2006, after appearing on television commercials since 2002, Krystal's parents finally allowed her to sign with SM Entertainment. She debuted with f(x) in 2009.
3. Girls' Generation's Seohyun
Seohyun was scouted by a talent scout from SM Entertainment when she was in the fifth grade while riding a subway train. She ended up singing children's songs at her audition and was accepted as a trainee under the label. She made her debut with Girls' Generation in 2007. In 2017, she left the company. She is currently signed with Namoo Actors.
4. TVXQ's Changmin
Changmin was scouted by a talent scout from SM Entertainment when he was fourteen years old while playing badminton during his gym class. At the time, Changmin had no interest in becoming a singer. However, his mother - who happened to be wanting to meet singer BoA - urged him to go through with the auditions. He passed the initial auditions and was called back three days later for a second one. After winning the award for Best Singer and Best Artist at SM Entertainment's 6th Annual Youth Best Contest, he signed with the company. In 2003, he debuted with TVXQ.
5. EXO's D.O.
D.O. was scouted to audition for SM Entertainment after with a local singing contest on Goyang. He performed Na Yoon Kwon's "Anticipation" and Brown Eyed Soul's "My Story" at his audition and signed with the company in 2012, spending his last two years of high school as a trainee. In 2012, he debuted as a member of EXO.
6. NCT's Taeyong
Taeyong was scouted in the street by an SM Entertainment recruiter when he was eighteen-years-old. At the time, the recruited told him the company was one of the Big 3 companies. Taeyong, who was not knowledgeable about the idol industry, thought the recruiter was referring to MBC, SBS, and KBS, which are South Korea's three biggest broadcasting companies. He sang the national anthem for his audition and was signed as a trainee. He first made his debut with NCT U in 2016. He has since debuted as a member of NCT 127 and SuperM.
7. Girls' Generation's Tiffany
When Tiffany was fifteen-years-old, her brother had encouraged to participate in a singing contest. At the contest, she was noticed by an SM Entertainment representative who had offered her a chance to audition for the company. She auditioned and was accepted as a trainee, subsequently moving to South Korea three weeks later. In 2007, she debuted with Girls' Generation. In 2017, she left the company, She is currently signed under the record label Transparent Arts.
8. SHINee's Minho
Minho was street cast at a ski resort while on holiday in 2016. He had initially declined the offer but was approached after by another manager from the company. In the end, he chose to audition and was accepted as a trainee under SM Entertainment. In March 2008, he appeared as a model for Ha Sang-beg's Seoul Collection F/W 08-09. A month later, he was announced as a member of the five-member boy group SHINee.
9. EXO's Sehun
Sehun was first scouted when he was twelve-years-old by a casting agent from SM Entertainment while having lunch with his friends. Since he was taught by his parents to not interact with strangers, he spent 30 minutes running away from the agent. The agent chased after him and offered Sehun an audition. He ultimately agreed and went through four auditions in two years. In 2012, he debuted as a member of EXO.
10. NCT's Jaehyun
Jaehyun was scouted by an SM Entertainment casting agent outside of his school building. On that day, Jaehyun had to stay late at his school since he was on cleaning duty. He debuted with NCT U in 2016 and has also debuted with NCT 127 that same year.
11. EXO's Chanyeol
Chanyeol was scouted to be an SM Entertainment trainee after winning second place in the 2008 Smart Model Contest. As a trainee, he made cameo appearances in TVXQ's "HaHaHa Song" and Girls' Generation's "Genie" music video. In 2012, he debuted as a member of EXO.
12. NCT Dream's Jaemin
Jaemin was street cast in 2013 while he was out volunteering with his mom at an event. He was seen handing out posters and collecting trash when he was street cast. He trained under the company for three years and was part of SM Entertainment's trainee team, SM Rookies. In 2016, Jaemin debuted as a member of NCT Dream.
13. EXO's Baekhyun
Baekhyun was scouted by an SM Entertainment casting agent while studying for the entrance exams for the Seoul Institute of the Arts. He signed as a trainee under the company in 2011. He trained for less than a year and debuted as the main vocalist of EXO in 2012.
14. SHINee's Jonghyun
Jonghyun was scouted to join SM Entertainment when he fifteen-years-old while playing in a song festival with his band at school. He signed with the company in 2005 and trained for three years, debuting as the main vocalist of SHINee in 2008.
15. Jessica Jung (former Girls' Generation)
Jessica was scouted alongside her sister in 2000 in a shopping mall during a family vacation in South Korea. At the time, Krystal was not allowed to join the company, but Jessica was. She spent seven years as a trainee and debuted with Girls' Generation in 2007. In 2014, it was announced Jessica had been "forced out" of the group. She officially left SM Entertainment in 2015. In 2016, she signed under Coridel Entertainment.
