The name Seventeen is derived from the expression "13 members + 3 units + 1 group", representing

how the 13 members are divided into three different units and come together to form one cohesive
group.[12][13] The name originally referred to how 17 members (with the other 4 former pre-debut
trainees — Jang Do-yoon, Samuel Kim, Shin Dong-jin, and Yao Mingming) planned to debut.[14]

History[edit]
2013–2015: Formation, Seventeen TV, and Seventeen Project[edit]

Seventeen performing at the 2015 Summer K-POP Festival at

the Seoul Plaza.
See also: Seventeen TV

Beginning in 2013, Seventeen appeared in regular live broadcasts of a series called Seventeen
TV on the online streaming platform UStream. The show aired for multiple seasons, in which
trainees were introduced and shown practicing for performances, with some seasons culminating
with Like Seventeen concerts.[15][16] Prior to their debut, Seventeen also appeared in the reality
television show Seventeen Project: Big Debut Plan on MBC from May 2 to 26, 2015. The show
concluded with the group's debut showcase.[17]

2015: Successful debut, 17 Carat, and Boys Be[edit]

Seventeen officially debuted on May 26 with a live showcase televised by MBC, the first male K-pop
group to debut with a one-hour live showcase on a major broadcasting channel, with
labelmates Lizzy and Raina serving as MCs.[18] Three days later, Seventeen's first extended play
(EP) 17 Carat was released digitally.[2] 17 Carat became the longest-charting K-pop album of the
year in the US[3] and was the only rookie album to appear on Billboard's "10 Best K-Pop Albums of
2015" list.[4][5]

On September 10, 2015, Seventeen released their second EP Boys Be, which later became the
highest-selling rookie album of the year.[19] The EP's success earned the group awards at the Golden
Disk Awards, Seoul Music Awards, and Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.[20] Seventeen became the only K-
pop group on Billboard's "21 Under 21 2015: Music's Hottest Young Stars" list.[21][22] Seventeen held a
four-show concert series in Seoul titled 2015 Like Seventeen – Boys Wish from December 24 to 26
as a year-end celebration.[23] After the concerts' success, Seventeen held two more in the following
February in 2016, the Like Seventeen – Boys Wish Encore Concert.[24]

2016: Love & Letter, first win, and Going Seventeen[edit]

Seventeen's first studio album Love & Letter was released on April 25, 2016. In addition to success
on domestic charts, the album charted on the Oricon Weekly Pop Album Chart in Japan. [25]
[26]
Seventeen received their first win on a domestic music show with the album's lead single "Pretty
U".[27] Love & Letter was later re-released on July 4 with lead single "Very Nice".[28][29] Promotions were
immediately followed by Seventeen's 1st Asia Tour 2016 Shining Diamonds,