SM Entertainment is part of South Korea's three biggest entertainment agencies for a reason. Netizens are now recognizing the label's penchant for making magnificent casting choices that gave birth to the agency's most popular line of superstars.
In a recent forum, netizens discussed how the agency's superb street casting resulted in signing some of the biggest names in the industry's line up including SHINEE's Minho, EXO's Sehun, DO and Suho and NCT's Taeyeong, who is also currently making waves globally as a member of SuperM.
According to members of the forum, by looking at the younger pictures of the idols, it was uncanny how the agency's scouts were able to see the potential of these young talents to break through to the music industry.
"Sehun changed from a child into a handsome young man. Whoever street cast him needs a raise," one netizen said. Another marvelled at how, from a look in the streets, the casting agents saw DO and figured out that apart from a pretty face, he was also teeming with singing, dancing and acting skills.
While he is currently serving his mandatory enlistment, DO made a name for himself with several challenging acting roles for Hello Monster, Its Okay, That's Love and proved his strong charisma as the lead actor in 100 Days My Prince.
Choi Minho, who was also cast on the streets of South Korea, also proved to be a triple threat, delivering on powerful performances on stage, all the while topbilling successful dramas like To The Beautiful You, Hwarang, and 18 Again. He also appeared in films as he juggled his time between SHINEE and his acting life. Apart from his talents in the arts, Minho is also an accomplished soccer player and is known to be one of SM Entertainment's most passionate and competitive stars.
Netizens said that SM Entertainment's talent scouts deserve huge salaries for their sharp eye for star potential.
Actually, there were more stars who would have debuted under SM Entertainment under the right circumstances. It was previously reported by All Kpop that G-Dragon trained with SM for several years after Lee Soo Man himself saw his potential at a dance competition. However, G-Dragon eventually moved to YG when he developed a passion for rap.
BTS Jin was also scouted by an SM recruiter on the streets but he rejected the offer because he thought he was being scammed.
Lee Hyori, and Soyeon also trained under SM Entertainment but eventually chose to leave the agency before they debuted. Zico and former KARA member Gyuri also admitted that they tried out for SM Entertainment but did not make the cut.
