SM Entertainment debuts 25-member trainee group ‘SMTR25’ at the SMTown Live 2025: Everything we know so far

On January 12, 2025, SM Entertainment made headlines by introducing its newest 25-member male trainee group, SMTR25, at the SMTOWN Live 2025 concert. The event, held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, marked the company’s 30th anniversary, celebrating its legacy and paving the way for the next generation of K-pop artists. SMTR25, short for SM Trainees 2025, represents the fresh faces who will lead the agency's future boy group projects.

The trainees delivered standout performances of iconic tracks like SHINee's Lucifer and EXO's Growl. Their synchronization, charisma, and stage presence quickly caught the attention of fans, solidifying their potential as the next major act in K-pop.

Although SM Entertainment has not officially released profiles or details about the trainees, fans were quick to recognize a few familiar faces during the performances, sparking widespread excitement.

Adding to the anticipation, SM Entertainment appeared to have created a new social media account for SMTR25, though no posts have been made yet. This further fueled speculation about the group’s official debut and future activities.

---

SMTR25: List of known SMTR25 members

Fans have identified a few members from SMTR25 based on their performances and past appearances in the industry. However, it must be noted that these details have not been confirmed by any official source at the time of writing this article.

Here’s what we know so far about the lineup:

1) JJ:

• Nationality: Japanese-American
• Formerly part of Big Hit Music's pre-debut project Trainee A
• Gained attention for his improved stage presence and visuals since his previous appearances

2) Tata:

• Nationality: Thai
• Born: April 1, 2008
• Former trainee at GMM; older brother of actor Toto

3) Charlie Mullis:

• Nationality: Thai-British
• Born: May 26, 2007
• Former child actor; appeared in F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers

4) Riku Kitazume:

• Nationality: Japanese
• Born: August 12, 2006
• Former member of KADOKAWA DREAMS’ YOUTH team

5) Chin Kachinthorn:

• Nationality: Thai
• Born: August 3, 2007
• Ex-candidate of To Be Number One Idol 13

6) Kassho:

• Nationality: Japanese
• Additional details pending

7) Haruta:

• Nationality: Japanese
• Additional details pending

8) Haru:

• Nationality: Japanese
• Additional details pending

9) Krit:

• Nationality: Thai
• Born: 2007
• Additional details pending

Although these are the names fans have managed to identify, more details will likely be revealed in the coming months as SMTR25 begins formal promotions.

---

Other highlights of the 30-year celebration of SM Entertainment

The SMTOWN Live 2025 concert was a two-day extravaganza, celebrating SM Entertainment’s 30-year journey and showcasing its plans for the future. K-pop veterans like TVXQ, Super Junior, and BoA shared the stage with newer acts such as aespa and RIIZE.

The event featured nostalgic collaborations, cover stages of past SM hits, and performances from rising stars.

In addition to the new male trainees, SM Entertainment also teased a new eight-member girl group, Hearts2Hearts, set to debut in February. This marks SM’s first girl group launch in five years since aespa. The teaser heightened fan anticipation for the agency’s next chapter in the K-pop landscape.

---

The evening concluded with a unifying performance of Hope from KWANGYA, featuring all participating artists. This symbolic gesture underscored SM Entertainment’s commitment to its legacy and the promising future of its artists, including the much-anticipated boy group.