[On Stage] SM 30th Anniversary, 'K-pop History' Compressed on One Stage from H.O.T. to aespa

Celebrating 30 Years of SM: 'SM Town Live 2025' at Gocheok Sky Dome
40,000 Fans Gathered Over Two Days
98 Artists, 59 Songs, and a Record-Breaking 5-Hour Show

"When did you first listen to our music? We hope that music has been a comfort during your difficult moments in life."

Bada, Karina, Winter [Photo by SM Entertainment]

The message delivered by Bada of S.E.S. encapsulated the 30-year history of SM Entertainment. The 'SM Town Live 2025' held on the 12th at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, was a festival where one could witness the history of K-pop at a glance.

This two-day concert attracted about 40,000 spectators and was a large-scale event commemorating SM's 30th anniversary, featuring 98 artists performing 59 songs. Over the 5-hour running time, a diverse setlist covering SM's past, present, and future was presented, with meticulous stage production including giant screens and full lyric subtitles, providing the audience with an unforgettable experience.

TVXQ Photo by SM Entertainment

The concert kicked off spectacularly with TVXQ's "Rising Sun." Yunho and Changmin instantly raised the energy of the 20,000-strong audience with explosive energy. Next, Super Junior dominated the stage with "Thirst," known as the essence of SMP (SM Performance).

The "Asian Star" BoA showcased her enduring skills with "Hurricane Venus," "Girls on Top," and "Only One." Especially notable was the paired choreography with RISE's Shotaro during the "Only One" stage.

SM's first virtual artist Naevis premiered the unreleased new song "Sensitive," and aespa drew enthusiastic responses from the audience with "Whiplash" and "Supernova." The British group Dear Alice also debuted their song "Ariana" for the first time, expressing, "It's an honor to perform on the SMTOWN stage."

H.O.T., SM's first boy group and a leading force in the first generation idol boom in Korea, also took the stage to celebrate SM's 30th anniversary. The photo features NCT Dream, Kangta, and Tony An. Photo by SM Entertainment

Kangta, a former member of H.O.T. and currently an SM director, heated up the stage at Gocheok Sky Dome alongside Tony An. Together with members of NCT and RISE, the two reinterpreted H.O.T.'s hit songs, sharing their feelings, saying, "It's been a long time since we performed on stage under the name H.O.T."

Kangta expressed gratitude, saying, "I'm thankful that Tony An joined me for two consecutive days," while Tony An said, "Congratulations sincerely on SM's 30th anniversary. Since our debut is 29 years ago, we're about the same age as SM, and I'm happy to have grown together and still be able to perform on stage." The two performed "Candy" with NCT Dream and "Happiness" with NCT and RISE members, delivering a performance that bridged generations.

Bada of S.E.S. also performed "Dreams Come True" with aespa's Karina and Winter, presenting a stage that transcended generations.

RISE, EXO's Suho and Chanyeol, NCT U, NCT Dream, NCT 127, WayV, Super Junior-M, SHINee's Minho and Key, Red Velvet, and other representative SM artists all appeared to perform hit songs. Suho shared his thoughts, saying, "I'm truly happy to be part of SM."

aespa Photo by SM Entertainment

The concert featured special stages commemorating SM's 30th anniversary. Collaborative performances by the SMTOWN Family and SM artists, as well as tracks from the 30th-anniversary album where senior and junior artists remade SM's representative hits, were unveiled for the first time, captivating the audience's eyes and ears.

Near the venue, the "SM 30 Years Anniversary Zone" was set up, offering fans additional enjoyment. This space, featuring an LP-shaped circular structure and pink lighting, included a listening zone where fans could enjoy music reflecting SM's history and a photo zone, receiving enthusiastic responses from global fans.

‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025’ group image
[Photo by SM Entertainment]

In the latter part of the concert, SM groups covered songs by senior and junior artists, presenting special stages. aespa performed f(x)'s "Rum Pum Pum Pum," and RISE sang TVXQ's "Hug," adding fresh charm. Red Velvet covered Girls' Generation's "Run Devil Run," and NCT Dream delivered a unique rendition of EXO's "Love Me Right," earning warm reactions from the audience. Additionally, Kangta reinterpreted S.E.S.'s "Just A Feeling" with his own sensibility, enriching the stage further.

The concert finale was adorned with all SM artists singing "Happiness" together. The artists approached the audience closely, making eye contact and expressing their gratitude.