2005~2006
In 2005, SM Entertainment debuted a large boy group, 'Super Junior,' and then proceeded to plan a similar large girl group counterpart. SM put together a showcase comprised of internal trainees; most were veteran trainees and the total number of girls featured was 11.
Original compilation of the 11
(Clockwise from top left: Lee Yeon Hee, Hong Bo Ra, Bae Seok Min, Zhang Li Yin, Jessica Jung, Kim Ye Jin, Seo Ju Hyun, Im Yoon Ah, Choi Soo Young, Kwon Yu Ri, Kim Hyo Yeon)
Notes:
Currently an actress: Lee Yeon Hee
Zhang Li Yin is currently a solo singer with SM Entertainment.
Jessica Jung was a Korean American Trainee.
Leader: Lee Yeon Hee (born in 1988)
Maknae: Kim Ye Jin (born in 1993; only in grade 3 when she joined the company).
And then the first revision began:
IN: Seo Hyun Jin, Park So Yeon, Stella Kim, Jang Ha Jin, Lee Hwan Hee
OUT: Lee Yeon Hee, Hong Bo Ra, Bae Seok Min, Zhang Li Yin, Kim Ye Jin
The revised 11
Notes:
Seo Hyun Jin was a member and a lead vocal of a four-girl group called M.I.L.K.
Interestingly, the provisional name of this early group was "Seo Hyun Jin Group".
Stella Kim was a Korean American Trainee.
Park So Yeon is currently a member of the girl group T-ara.
Leader: Seo Hyun Jin (born in 1985)
Maknae: Seo Ju Hyun and Lee Hwan Hee (both born in 1991)
Second revision of the group:
IN: Kim Tae Yeon, Stephanie Hwang OUT: Seo Hyun Jin, Lee Hwan Hee
Still 11 group members
With Seo Hyun Jin and Lee out of the running, SM invited a regional trainee Kim Tae Yeon and American Stephanie Hwang (who at the time had only trained for 2 years). SM initially planned to stick to these 11 girls and actually took some still cuts/pics of them. This line-up is probably the most well-known line-up for the so-called female counterpart of Super Junior. At this point, netizens started calling this project group as Super Girls. In fact, SM Entertainment initially planned to debut this 11-member girl group. They even already took group picture of them.
Here's a group photo
Initial roster:
Vocal Line: Park So Yeon, Kim Tae Yeon, Jessica Jung, Stephanie Hwang, Seo Ju Hyun, Stella Kim
Dance Line: Kim Hyo Yeon, Kwon Yu Ri, Choi Soo Young, Im Yoon Ah
Visual Line: Jessica Jung, Stella Kim, Im Yoon Ah, Jang Ha Jin
Notes:
Stephanie Hwang was a Korean American Trainee.
Leader: Park So Yeon (Born 1987)
Maknae: Seo Ju Hyun (Born 1991)
The third revision:
IN: Lee Soon Kyu, Lee Hwan Hee, Heo Chan Mi
OUT: Stella Kim, Jang Ha Jin
12 group members this time
SM initially planned to debut with the 11 girls from revision 2. However, Lee Soon Kyu was recruited as an additional trainee thanks to rave recommendation from SM singer Ayumi, and added another trainee named Heo Chan Mi. They re-recruited Lee Hwan Hee as well. During this process, Stella Kim, once highly touted prospect of SM, was cut mainly due to her lack of dancing skills.
A group picture of the 12
Notes:
Lee Soon Kyu was originally a trainee with another company; she transferred over to SM after an audition.
Leader: Park So Yeon (born 1987)
Maknae: Heo Chan Mi (born 1992)
And of course, the 9 who we know and love today:
Debut pictures
OUT: Park So Yeon, Lee Hwan Hee, Heo Chan Mi
After numerous revisions, the remaining trainees were put through what was ultimately a final audition process; SM had decided to cut the number of girls in the group from 12 to 9. The final audition resulted in Park So Yeon, Lee Hwan Hee, and Heo Chan Mi being cut, resulting in the current 9 members.
The 9 remaining girls were then officially named "So Nyuh Shi Dae" and took official profile pictures.
The original debut group picture
Chronicles of their initial debut:
July 6, 2007: Teaser of the first confirmed member, YoonA, is released.
July 7, 2007: Teaser of the second confirmed member, Tiffany (real name: Stephanie Hwang) is released.
July 8, 2007: Teaser of the third confirmed member, Yuri, is released.
July 9, 2007: Teaser of the fourth confirmed member, Hyoyeon, is released.
July 10, 2007: Teaser of the fifth confirmed member, Sooyoung, is released.
July 11, 2007: Teaser of the sixth confirmed member, Seohyun (real name: Seo Ju Hyun) is released.
July 12, 2007: Teaser of the seventh confirmed member, Taeyeon, is released.
July 13, 2007: Teaser of the eighth confirmed member, Jessica, is released.
July 14, 2007: Teaser of the final confirmed member, Sunny (real name: Lee Soon Kyu) is released.
July 16, 2007: Group footage and the name "So Nyuh Shi Dae/Girls' Generation" is released.
August 3, 2007: The debut album "Da Shi Man Nan Sae Gae/Into the New World" is released.
August 5: 2007: The girls make their first public TV performance in SBS "Inkigayo". This particular performance can be viewed here.
Disclaimer: I didn't compile all of this, mainly formatted it for reddit - the folks over at Soshichan did, along with sources from various fansites. Thanks to all the fansites/chans that made this possible. Shoutouts to SSC & SSF.
