SM Entertainment Trainee Songha's Decade-Long Journey Sparks Debate Among K-Netizens

Songha (송하), a member of SMTR25, joined SM Entertainment as a trainee at age 13. He has now been training for 10 years, and even if he successfully debuts next year, he will be 24 years old.

Below are translated comments from Korean netizens:

1. He has an actor's face.
2. Wow, born in '04 means he's not young anymore. Will he debut?
3. Ten years, that's really a long time...

4. After 10 years, they should at least take responsibility out of goodwill ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
5. If it's been 10 years, don't let him go; let him debut.
6. Trainees shouldn't be revealed early to film variety shows and use up their image; they should just debut quickly. RIIZE's youngest and WISH's third youngest, who are the same age, have already debuted two to three years ago.

7. At 24, he could have gone to the military twice... It's such a waste.
8. He looks too old; he doesn't fit the SM boy group style.
9. He's so handsome, what should he do?

10. If he was born in '04, he should debut quickly, what are they doing? Trainees have their own lives too..
11. Those born in '04 are already ㅠㅠ It wouldn't be bad to switch to acting. It seems unlikely for male idols to debut this year.
12. Even if he becomes an actor, they should take responsibility.

13. He would do well as an actor; he's handsome.
14. He's handsome but couldn't debut... If he participated in an audition program, he'd probably debut immediately.
15. He looks like an actor; it would be good for him to pursue that.

16. He has a typical SM face; several debuted SM idols look like him.
17. He has an actor's face but isn't allowed to debut. Then they should take responsibility for his acting career; it's too much.
18. No, he's too handsome??? I feel like he'd do very well as an actor.

19. Do they think he wouldn't fit into a debut group, but they're reluctant to terminate his contract?
20. Ten years, they should take responsibility out of goodwill.
21. The thumbnail's front view looks like Jaehyun (재현), and the side view looks like Sungchan (성찬). Is it because of overlapping images that he couldn't debut with RIIZE or WISH? Debuting also depends on timing ㅠㅠ

22. Why don't they let someone this handsome debut?
23. Ah, after this year, he'll feel a bit old ㅠ for an idol debut.
24. If it's not going to happen, they should let him go early so trainees can live their own lives. What's the point of dragging it out for 10 years? At least let him debut as an actor.

25. Since they've kept him for so long, they should find a way for him to debut.
26. If he got lost in Seoul, you'd have to take him to Seoul Forest; he has such a typical SM face.
27. After all this, they should let him debut. They're heartless; if they want to let him go, they should do it early.

28. What are they going to do with these SMTOWN ROOKIES kidsㅡㅡ;;
29. He looks like a RIIZE member, why didn't they let him join RIIZE?
30. But he looks good, why didn't they let him debut earlier?

31. Why is his debut being delayed so much ㅠ Honestly, the old Rookies system wasn't necessarily successful, so they might as well not reveal them.
32. RIIZE's Eunseok (은석) and Sungchan also debuted at this age. Did anyone say it was late then?
33. They themselves are reluctant to let him go, so they keep him instead of letting him join another company. No, after 10 years, let him debut; he looks good.

34. Will he debut as the eldest member of SM's new group?
35. After 10 years, the company should take some responsibility.
36. He's handsome but they keep him; what are they doing?

37. His visuals and age fit RIIZE's style, why was he excluded?
38. Born in '04 isn't young???????????
39. Come be an actor, he truly has an actor's face.

40. In this situation, the company is too cruel... They should be clear...
41. I feel like he could have been put in RIIZE, why wasn't he? Is it because there's a similar visual?
42. Ten years, the company needs to take responsibility.

43. Ten years, even the landscape has changed; they should let him go properly.
44. What are they doing by not letting him debut? Even 'You Quiz' showed his footage, making it seem like they want him to debut, but if he's '04, he should have debuted immediately when he was revealed last year.
45. Ten years, can't he even debut as an actor? He's super handsome...

46. After 10 years, they should take responsibility, really;; It's too much.
47. Sungchan re-debuted, Eunseok debuted at 23, and he'll debut at 24 at the earliest next year. Irene (아이린) is the only one who debuted at 24 in SM.
48. Sungchan re-debuted, so his debut itself wasn't late. Eunseok debuted at 23, and Songha is around that age. If SMTOWN ROOKIES debuts next year, everyone will keep talking about it.

49. Ten years, they should take responsibility.
50. No, SMTOWN ROOKIES has done everything except debut. When will they actually debut? I feel like he'd fit well in RIIZE, but maybe because he overlaps with Sungchan, and NCT WISH's vibe doesn't match, he's still a trainee?
51. If they're not going to let them debut, they shouldn't let trainees form groups and do these things; it's just a waste of time. No debut, what's the point?

52. No, he's too handsome; he's my favorite type among male idols I've seen. Please let him debut.
53. He has RIIZE's style, but if he doesn't debut this year, debuting at 24 is really late... Keeping him for 10 years is too much.
54. SMTOWN ROOKIES has really done everything except debut. I'm anxious for them.

55. Next year, at 24, he'll be considered old for a rookie idol.
56. But he's truly a talent the entertainment industry needs; he's handsome.
57. Wow, I'm not the only one who thinks he has an actor's face... He's really handsome.

58. Studying for 10 years doesn't guarantee you'll go to university or become a professional, so I don't understand why a company should be responsible after 10 years of training...
59. Even if he becomes an actor, they should let him debut. Ten years is really too much.