SM Entertainment to introduce a new boy group in second half of 2025; ex-HYBE trainee rumoured to join the lineup

SM entertainment

SM Entertainment is set to debut a new boy group in the latter half of 2025. This marks the agency's first boy group debut since RIIZE in 2023. According to a K-media insider, "A new boy band will debut under SM Entertainment this year." Though an official date has not been confirmed, the group’s debut is expected in the second half of 2025, following a standard preparation period of five months.

Buzz around this debut intensified after 25 male trainees from SMTR25 performed at the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert. Their high-energy renditions of hits like EXO's Growl and SHINee's Lucifer left fans and industry insiders impressed.

One trainee, JJ, captured significant attention. A Japanese-American with prior exposure in the K-pop scene, JJ was previously featured in HYBE's 2021 YouTube series Trainee A. After his potential debut under HYBE fell through, he reportedly joined SM Entertainment, though SM has never commented on this. Fans speculate JJ might be the center of the upcoming boy group, given his frequent close-ups during the performance.

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Plans to debut a new boy group in November 2024 were reportedly shelved to avoid clashing with SM's 30th-anniversary celebrations. Instead, the agency decided to focus on debuting their new girl group, Hearts2Hearts, scheduled for February 2025.

SM’s reputation for producing globally successful boy groups like EXO, NCT, and SHINee has set high expectations.

Stay tuned for more updates as SM Entertainment unveils details about their next big project.