SM Entertainment introduced three new members of the pre-debut team, SM Rookies (or SMROOKIES) on July 1 via a photoshoot with WWD Korea. They released additional videos on July 4, giving fans a proper look at the trio.Seungchan, Eunseok and Shohei immediately caught fans’ attention. While not much is known about them, there have allegedly been hate comments regarding Shohei for his age. Shohei was born in 1996, which makes him 26 this year.SMROOKIES@smrookiesSMROOKIES #EUNSEOK #SHOHEI #SEUNGHAN#SMROOKIES #SR22B16491775273SMROOKIES #EUNSEOK #SHOHEI #SEUNGHAN#SMROOKIES #SR22B https://t.co/Ynl214yPn3With an increasing number of idols as young as 15 debuting, it seems that the SM Rookies member’s age became a point of debate online. However, it did not take much time for netizens to rise and defend the trainee too.Netizens attempted to hold a mirror to the K-pop industry’s notorious ways of working by calling out the mental pressures and hardships agencies were making teenagers go through by debuting them early.alex ★@NYUY0NGshohei is not too old to debut, his age is not a problemthe problem is that y'all are too used to see CHILDREN on stage let children go to school and let adults debut thank you5023shohei is not too old to debut, his age is not a problemthe problem is that y'all are too used to see CHILDREN on stage let children go to school and let adults debut thank youNCT's Missing Language@jjuwngwoo@taromarklee Shohei is at the most appropriate age to debut. Nothing weird about that at all. 4th gen stans are probably just acting like this because they're too used to seeing underage idols debut. Not gonna lie, it's really disturbing to see idols in 06, 07, 08, 09 line debut245@taromarklee Shohei is at the most appropriate age to debut. Nothing weird about that at all. 4th gen stans are probably just acting like this because they're too used to seeing underage idols debut. Not gonna lie, it's really disturbing to see idols in 06, 07, 08, 09 line debutNetizens defend the newest SM Rookies member, Shohei, against alleged hate commentsZehra 🦋@xiaonytIdk about you guys but finding out that shohei auditioned 10 times before getting into sm and working at McDonald's just instantly made him more likable to me. Everyone always wants kpop idols to be more "real" and I really don't know what could make an idol more real than this156203016Idk about you guys but finding out that shohei auditioned 10 times before getting into sm and working at McDonald's just instantly made him more likable to me. Everyone always wants kpop idols to be more "real" and I really don't know what could make an idol more real than thisShohei, the newest joinee of the SM Rookies trio, has allegedly been subjected to hate comments online. After he was introduced with a splendid photoshoot with WWD Korea, netizens dug up information about him.It is difficult to leave no digital footprint in this day and age. So when Shohei was revealed to be one of the SM Rookies alongside Seungchan and Eunseok, a few netizens took it upon themselves to find out more information about the members.Shohei allegedly received hate comments for two major things - his age (being 26) and his past (failing auditions and working part-time at McDonald’s).Seeing a potential trainee debut at 26 years of age is a rare sight in K-pop, especially in the fourth-generation. The K-pop industry is increasingly launching troops of young idols. The oldest members of some of the recently debuted groups are either 20 or younger than that.mila@xiaoxiaodejunThe amount of hate Shohei is getting because he had to work harder than most to achieve his dream.I thought you weirdos hated idols that had it "too easy" and didn't struggle enough for your liking?1890417The amount of hate Shohei is getting because he had to work harder than most to achieve his dream.I thought you weirdos hated idols that had it "too easy" and didn't struggle enough for your liking?ExTeenageRobot Redux@girllwithluvI’d rather someone who can fully understand the gravity of being in the entertainment industry be debuting than a kid who was robbed of their childhood and peak socialization years.15512I’d rather someone who can fully understand the gravity of being in the entertainment industry be debuting than a kid who was robbed of their childhood and peak socialization years.ExTeenageRobot Redux@girllwithluvWhy are ppl being so weird about Shohei being 25/26. oh no a full grown adult with a fully developed brain is debuting instead of a 14 year old who had to drop out of middle school. Do you see how you sound?1684322Why are ppl being so weird about Shohei being 25/26. oh no a full grown adult with a fully developed brain is debuting instead of a 14 year old who had to drop out of middle school. Do you see how you sound? https://t.co/i4FGYyMjz6Earlier, BTS’ Jin had comforted a 03 liner ARMY on Weverse who was disheartened as K-pop agencies told her that she was “late.” Even more recently, BTS leader RM talked about the “traditional expiry date” of an idol in an industry that wishes to churn out new and young faces into the public continuously.On the other hand, Shohei was also allegedly attacked for failing 10 auditions and working at McDonald’s. People shared a list of successful idols who had also failed multiple auditions and defended the trainee, saying that it only shows his determination to pursue his dreams.ExTeenageRobot Redux@girllwithluvHow do ppl even have pictures of Shohei working at McDonald’s? he was literally just some dude back then. Also why should he be ashamed for having a part time job. Most y’all’s faves have never had a labor job in their lives.4489714How do ppl even have pictures of Shohei working at McDonald’s? he was literally just some dude back then. Also why should he be ashamed for having a part time job. Most y’all’s faves have never had a labor job in their lives.on parole • 🌸@hey_hyejoo@girllwithluv people probably started snooping his digital footprint the minute he was announced1671@girllwithluv people probably started snooping his digital footprint the minute he was announcedExTeenageRobot Redux@girllwithluvHe lived a normal life before debuting. How is that bad or shameful? That should give y’all hope that not everyone has to have money and connections in order to achieve a dream.1035128He lived a normal life before debuting. How is that bad or shameful? That should give y’all hope that not everyone has to have money and connections in order to achieve a dream.xia and girls | 23@LuckyBeADuo@girllwithluv my respect towards shohei is really growing, even though i dont know this is true or nah but he really different and brave enough to do all of this. from his age, redebuting, failed sm audition, and this mcdonalds rumours. he deserved success665@girllwithluv my respect towards shohei is really growing, even though i dont know this is true or nah but he really different and brave enough to do all of this. from his age, redebuting, failed sm audition, and this mcdonalds rumours. he deserved successRIC@thelebronzShohei did some part time jobs, keep trying and never give up on his dream alone, got the biggest respect from me. Keep grinding boy2417488Shohei did some part time jobs, keep trying and never give up on his dream alone, got the biggest respect from me. Keep grinding boyً@tyongtracksdon’t worry about shohei being a 96 liner he won’t be enlisting twitter.com/im_jammed/stat…오락-님@im_jammedSEUNGHAN, EUNSEOK, SHOHEI, SM Rookies new facesSM Ent's pre-debut team 'SMROOKIES' has unveiled new faces who were in charge of shooting the summer issue of WWD Korea. Seunghan (born in 2003), Eunseok (born in 2001) while Shohei, (Japanese, born in 1996) entertain.v.daum.net/v/202207021027…58077SEUNGHAN, EUNSEOK, SHOHEI, SM Rookies new facesSM Ent's pre-debut team 'SMROOKIES' has unveiled new faces who were in charge of shooting the summer issue of WWD Korea. Seunghan (born in 2003), Eunseok (born in 2001) while Shohei, (Japanese, born in 1996) entertain.v.daum.net/v/202207021027…don’t worry about shohei being a 96 liner he won’t be enlisting twitter.com/im_jammed/stat… https://t.co/G0xN7sjz4ig⁸@elevensmum02My respect for Shohei is growing by a second. The fact that he tried so many times despite rejections speaks for itself. Those who are badmouthing him for his age and whatever else should be ashamed. He's been working hard not for y'all to judge him. He made it for his dream.45393My respect for Shohei is growing by a second. The fact that he tried so many times despite rejections speaks for itself. Those who are badmouthing him for his age and whatever else should be ashamed. He's been working hard not for y'all to judge him. He made it for his dream.Meanwhile, Shohei is of Japanese nationality and is skilled in rapping and DJing. Seungchan, born in 2003, has great dance and vocal talent. Eunseok, born in 2001, is a visual member and aspires to be an actor.Take a look at their introductory videos below:SMROOKIES@smrookiesSEUNGHAN youtu.be/JHHW7uiycJc#승한 #SEUNGHAN #SMROOKIES #SR22B3536817448SEUNGHAN youtu.be/JHHW7uiycJc#승한 #SEUNGHAN #SMROOKIES #SR22B https://t.co/az9UakV0zaSMROOKIES@smrookiesEUNSEOKyoutu.be/aounf_l6DwM #은석 #EUNSEOK #SMROOKIES #SR22B4853319787EUNSEOKyoutu.be/aounf_l6DwM #은석 #EUNSEOK #SMROOKIES #SR22B https://t.co/fxE1SJoCqvSMROOKIES@smrookiesSHOHEIyoutu.be/7xzZAO4CTBM#쇼헤이 #SHOHEI #正平 #ショウヘイ #SMROOKIES #SR22B3495416660SHOHEIyoutu.be/7xzZAO4CTBM#쇼헤이 #SHOHEI #正平 #ショウヘイ #SMROOKIES #SR22B https://t.co/lDiZw22sXDSM Rookies is a pre-debut team formed by SM Entertainment. Numerous NCT and Red Velvet members were first introduced as SM Rookies before debuting as idols.