4 Rules That SM Entertainment Trainees Are Expected To Follow

SM Entertainment is extremely strict towards their trainees, which isn’t too surprising, as they are one of the biggest agencies in K-Pop. Here’s a list of some of the rules that trainees at SM Entertainment are expected to follow.

1. No phones or going out late at night

A former SM Entertainment trainee came out and revealed some details about her life as a trainee, and shared that trainees are not allowed to use their phones except at night and on Sundays.

Trainees at SM Entertainment also aren’t allowed to go out at night.

2. Learning from mistakes

SM Entertainment is extremely strict on their trainees whenever they make a mistake. A former SM Entertainment trainee shared that whenever a trainee makes a mistake, they are expected to write down what they did wrong and aren’t allowed to practice until they acknowledge what they did wrong.

If you do anything wrong, you write about what you did wrong and you aren’t allowed to practice until you can clearly state what you did wrong.

— Former SM Entertainment trainee

3. Constantly practicing

Trainees at SM Entertainment are also expected to constantly practice, as one former SM Entertainment trainee revealed that trainees at the company have to practice every day except for Sundays and that they usually practice for over 12 hours each day.

4. Bowing

In Korean culture, greeting and bowing are seen as a sign of respect, and trainees at SM Entertainment are taught this constantly. EXO‘s Baekhyun once talked about his trainee days and revealed that trainees at the company have to greet their seniors with a loud voice and always have to bow.