'Pink Blood' After 7 Years... SM's New Male Idol Group Debuts

Announcement of Launching 3 New Teams Including Rookie Male Group
'New Male Idol Group' First in 7 Years Since NCT in 2016
"We Will Do Our Best to Prepare Great Music and Content"

SM Entertainment announced a strategy to launch three new IPs (intellectual properties) this year, including a rookie male group. This will be SM's first new male idol group since the debut of NCT in 2016. After 7 years, the rookie male group 'Pink Blood' will be born.

On the 24th, SM released a video titled ‘SM 3.0: NEW IP 2023’ on its official YouTube channel. A total of three teams will debut this year: a new team from NCT, a rookie male group, and a rookie female group. The new NCT team represents the final stage of the infinite expansion of the NCT IP. Two debut trainees of Japanese nationality were revealed as SM Rookies, and additional members selected through a pre-debut reality show will complete the team. SM Rookies is SM’s pre-debut team.

SM’s rookie male group will include existing NCT members Sungchan and Shotaro, joined by SM Rookies Eunsuk and Seunghan. The group will be composed of members from Korea and the United States. The rookie female group will be formed including trainees who participated in the evaluation held last March. SM’s rookie female idol group will debut for the first time in three years since aespa. Their debut is targeted for the fourth quarter of this year. The timing is expected to mark the launch of the '5th generation idols.'

Jang Cheolhyuk, CEO of SM, said, "Although some parts of the NEW IP debut plan announced in February through ‘SM 3.0’ have been delayed, this decision was made to show the best possible outcome, so we ask for the understanding of our fans. We are also doing our best to prepare great music and content for all SM artists scheduled to be active this year, so please continue to look forward to and support us."