Can a K-pop trainee sign with an agency as both a group member and a soloist and debut in both at the same time?

Explain

If a trainee is a true all-rounder with no major weaknesses—great at singing, dancing, rapping, stage presence, songwriting, producing, and overall artistry—wouldn’t it potentially be more profitable for the company to debut and promote them as both a group member and a soloist from the beginning?

I know most K-pop agencies, including SM, usually debut artists in a group first and later develop some members as soloists. But could an agency recognize a trainee’s potential from the beginning and decide that they are capable of both a group debut and a solo debut at the same time, with promotions for both?

Could this kind of career path be agreed upon in the artist’s contract, or would the company normally make that decision later?

Posted Aug 14, 2026, 5:48 AM UTC

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