The Legendary Trainee A: From Heartbreak to Triumph at the 2025 MAMA Awards
Did you all notice?
The legendary Trainee A members reunited at this year's MAMA Awards!
These are the friends who shared the same dream and endured the hardships of trainee life together.
To see them overcome their individual difficulties and come together in one place... (So touching!)
First, let's take a look at the Trainee A members.
Trainee A was a pre-debut boy group trainee team under Big Hit Music (now HYBE), aiming to debut in 2022. The name wasn't official; it was a temporary name meaning 'Trainee A.'
However, due to member changes and project termination, their debut was canceled in December 2022.
The group, consisting of Inhyuk, Rio, Sangwon, Junil, James, Jihoon, and Wochan, was first revealed in March 2021.
They diligently built their narrative for about two years, revealing their debut preparation process through social media.
But as mentioned before, due to member changes and project termination, their debut was canceled in December 2022. They announced the termination of their SNS channels on December 23, 2022, shocking many fans.
Even before their debut, they had over 1 million YouTube subscribers, so the fans' disappointment was immense.
Now, they are succeeding in their debuts one after another, and interest in the legendary Trainee A is growing again.
They started activities by revealing the debut lineup with 7 members, but with Lee Rio's departure, they prepared as a final 6-member group, or so it was said.
The members at the time of the debut cancellation were Inhyuk, Rio, Sangwon, Junil, James, Jihoon, and Wochan.
December 23rd will be the 2nd anniversary of Trainee A's official disbandment. ㅠㅠ Still, it's fortunate that everyone is succeeding in their debuts, a beautiful ending.
So, what are the members up to now?
Yochi - POW (GRID Entertainment) debuted in 2023
Rio, Sangwon - ALPHADRIVE1 (GRID Entertainment) to debut in 2026
Jihoon - TWS (Pledis Entertainment) debuted in 2024
Wochan - ALLDAY PROJECT (The Black Label) to debut in 2025
James - CORTIS (Big Hit Music) to debut in 2025
JJ - SMTR25 (SM Entertainment)
Debuts began in 2023, and as of 2025, all members except JJ have successfully debuted.
Sangwon and Rio are scheduled to debut as ALPHADRIVE1 through Boys2Planet, so almost all the members will finally be on stage.
JJ is said to have appeared at the SM 30th Anniversary concert not long ago, so might he debut soon?
They are all gathering at this year's 2025 MAMA Awards.
Of course, there are some differences in the stage schedule between the first and second days, but something is deeply moving.
The members must feel very emotional too.
MAMA~
Why don't you plan a special stage?
This is a sure thing!
A guaranteed hit!
If you have any sense, you should proceed immediately!
September 25th, tears were streaming down my face.
I cried a lot watching Mo!
Now, only you are left...
I shed tears for the first time here,
and finally, after confirming his debut as #1,
I burst into tears for the second time during his acceptance speech.
It took a long, long time~
It was a complete waterfall.
I'll slowly believe in you from now on~
I was so proud. ㅎㅎㅎ
Let's meet for a long time as Lee Sangwon of ALPHADRIVE1!
This contract is 5+1, a total of 6 years.
At least one audition group will continue to come out every two years...
Wake One!
If you hide our kids and don't show them, we won't let you get away with it!!
ZEROBASEONE's contract is also 2 and a half years, so it ends early next year.
ZEROSEs are very interested in whether they will renew their contracts...
This contract is surprisingly long.
I thought that ALPHADRIVE1's activities would guarantee individual activities under the original agency, but that's not the case... Really, Wake One!
You guys have to do well!
(Actually, I was a little expecting this too... It would be so great if the 03z had a unit activity!)
It's good that the kids are worldwide, but show them a lot on the domestic stage too!
First of all, Mnet~MAMA~
Let's go for a Trainee A special stage~~
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