Trainee A, once touted as Big Hit Music's next big boy group, was on the brink of debuting and expected to become the next big global K-pop act. However, an unexpected turn of events changed everything.
Initially introduced through YouTube, Trainee A quickly built an international following thanks to their engaging content, including vlogs, dance covers, and personal diaries. Fans were impressed not only by the members’ talent but also their charisma and potential. With Big Hit Music backing the project, anticipation for their debut soared.
However, just before the group’s official debut, member LEO unexpectedly left, and the debut plans were abruptly canceled. This unforeseen development shocked fans and left many wondering about the group’s future. Eventually, Trainee A disbanded, closing the chapter on what could have been a major rookie group debut.
Since then, fans have been curious about where the former trainee members are. As of 2025, many members have successfully embarked on their new careers in the entertainment industry, some under new agencies, already making their official debut.
Here's an update on what each member of Trainee A is up to now:
Leo - Made a solo debut, also set to appear on 'Boys II Planet' under Grid Entertainment
Sangwon - Also set to appear on 'Boys II Planet' under Grid Entertainment
Woochan - debuted under The BLACK LABEL's co-ed group ALL DAY PROJECT
James - Set to debut on August 18, 2025, as part of Big Hit Music’s upcoming boy group. Seen as a backup dancer for Jungkook when he was promoting "Seven."
Jihoon - Debuted with TWS in 2024 under Pledis Entertainment
Yorch - Debuted in 2023 with POW under Grid Entertainment
JJ - Currently training under SM Entertainment, expected to debut between 2025 and 2026 as part of SMTR25
Although Trainee A never made their official debut as a group, the members continued to receive love and interest from their fans. With some already performing on stage and others preparing for their debut, Korean netizens continue to show support for the members.
Korean netizens commented:
"I'm really curious about JJ... He moved from one major agency to another. Will he actually debut?"
"Wow, they all look so young."
"I'm not even a HYBE fan, but I think they would've become super popular if they had debuted. LOL. Each member had such a distinct character."
"I think they would've been popular as they were. I heard they had 1.38 million YouTube subscribers even before their debut. LOL."
"Oh, James stayed with Big Hit and is debuting? He was my favorite."
"Yeah, they really had great visuals together..."
"Whoa, Jihoon from TWS was in Trainee A too?"
"Wow, what a visual combination."
"So they’re all debuting after all. I didn’t know Yorch debuted. I thought the other one wasn’t debuting either because he just posted on Instagram."
"They would've done really well if they debuted like this as a group."
"If they had debuted as this group, the popularity would’ve been insane."
"They were all amazing dancers... Even though they split up, they’re all main dancer-level in their respective groups now."
"I'm glad they're all debuting."
"Ugh, this is so frustrating... What a loss."
"Wow, I had only heard of the group name, but I didn’t know Woochan and Jihoon were part of it."
"Still, it's nice to see they all ended up doing well. POW’s songs are really good."
"They really did gather some talented people. The group was built around Leo and Sangwon, and it fell apart when the 'center' member got into controversy. Even when TWS debuted later, I was like, 'Where did they find these kids?'"
"They had such a solid lineup, so it’s a shame their debut got canceled because of the controversy. But it’s a relief to see they’re all doing well now."
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