NCT’s Jaemin Admits To Leaving SM Entertainment Over Food, Sparking Mixed Feelings

NCT Jaemin‘s recent story about leaving SM Entertainment has sparked mixed reactions over the company’s policies.

NCT DREAM are currently scheduled to release their newest comeback on March 25 and have already begun promotions. Recently, Mark, Jaemin, and Haechan appeared on Yoo Jae Suk‘s YouTube channel, where they chatted about many things.

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At one point, while talking about their time under SM Entertainment and how some trainees would leave the company, Jae Suk asked Jaemin about his experience with leaving SM.

Jaemin admits that he did not leave because he wanted to but got in trouble over sneaking in a burger and left because of it.

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When Mark questions him, Jaemin confirms, saying, “It was because I bought myself some burgers.”

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Some fans found the story humorous as Jaemin told it, reflecting on how different things would have been if he had not returned to the company.

we almost lost jaemin over a burger https://t.co/KY2puBwQsu

— (@lililyx97) March 21, 2024

other ppl be like "omg i can't believe we almost lost *BLANK* to academia or law school" or whatever

i can't believe we almost lost na jaemin to a hamburger https://t.co/DJNba1Cbz6

— ami ︎ (@mhaestake) March 21, 2024

Risked his career over a hamburger https://t.co/ImHJs7n7r3

— jezz | tds3 cutie (@renjyoung) March 21, 2024

On the other hand, some fans considered the implications of what he said and reacted differently.

Jaemin debuted in NCT DREAM in 2016 at 16 and was a trainee since 2013, joining the company just before he turned 13.

If Jaemin left SM Entertainment as a trainee after getting caught eating a hamburger, this means his diet was likely heavily monitored even in his early teens as he was growing. The thought that SM may have been “starving” trainees shocked and outraged many fans.

he was probably like 12/13……. sm ur so fucking weird https://t.co/yqfcgZR6QM

— nasra (@haechtzn) March 21, 2024

this is crazy im sorry how is it normal to starve a 12 year old https://t.co/dDEccPfhWB

— z (@mvrkyongs) March 21, 2024

Jaemin's so real for choosing the burger but sm was really out there starving a 13 years old kid https://t.co/vo5rBKNWRI

— wandrland (@jukeboxerr) March 21, 2024