As 2024 approaches its end, the K-pop industry prepares for yet another busy 2025. One of the industry’s biggest entertainment companies, SM Entertainment, recently announced their plans for their artists, revealing what their groups and idols have planned for the coming year. The agency’s plans for the first quarter of 2025 include musical releases and concerts, which means new songs and performances.
As shown in the preview, fans can expect solo comebacks and debuts from stars like EXO’s Kai, Red Velvet’s Seulgi and NCT’s Ten and Mark. Most excitingly, SM Entertainment also announced the debut of their new girl group since aespa. While there are also concerts slated for 2025, this list will focus on musical releases only. Without further ado, here are all the SMTOWN stars who will release new music in early 2025:
SMTOWN
SMTOWN represents the musical collective for all the recording artists under SM Entertainment. According to the plans, the collective will release new music in 2025, three years after the last SMTOWN album. Since this new album will also celebrate SM Entertainment’s 30th anniversary, fans can expect more exciting projects and collaborations.
Mark (마크)
NCT’s (엔시티) Mark will also make his long-awaited solo debut in 2025. The multi-faceted idol has previously announced plans for his first solo album, which is scheduled for February next year. He has since received a lot of interest for the upcoming album through his pre-release single, “200”, released in May 2024.
Kai (카이)
EXO’s (엑소) Kai is another idol in SM Entertainment making his comeback in 2025. As Kai will complete his military service in February 2025, this upcoming project will mark his first release since his discharge. His last single, “Rover”, was a major hit in Korea and internationally, so fans and industry critics have high expectations for his next release.
Seulgi (슬기)
Also slated for a solo comeback is Red Velvet’s (레드벨벳) Seulgi, who made her solo debut with the 2022 EP “28 Reasons”. Since her debut album received critical acclaim and was listed as one of the best releases of 2022 by multiple renowned publications, many hope to see more of the singer’s creative side unleashed in her next solo project.
Ten (텐)
NCT/WayV (웨이션브이) member Ten is also set to release more music in 2025, following his solo debut with his critically acclaimed self-titled EP. He also previously held a fan-concert tour to commemorate his official solo debut, but there isn’t any information on whether he’ll hold another tour for this upcoming release. Nevertheless, fans are excited to see more of Ten in 2025.
NCT WISH (エヌシーティー·ウィッシュ)
NCT’s Japanese sub-unit, NCT WISH, will also release new music in the first quarter of 2025. The subunit debuted in 2024 but has already released their first EP last September and is scheduled to release their first full-length album in December. They’ve also recently kicked off their first tour, “2024 NCT WISH ASIA TOUR LOG in JAPAN”, in early November.
naevis (나이비스)
SM Entertainment’s first virtual artist, naevis, joins the lineup of 2025 SMTOWN comebacks. The AI singer was first introduced as a supporting character in aespa’s universe but made her official debut in September 2024. Unfortunately, news of naevis’ comeback wasn’t well-received as K-pop fans questioned why the company prioritises a virtual being over their real artists.
Hyoyeon (효연)
Girls’ Generation (소녀시대) member Hyoyeon remains busy with new releases in Q1 of 2025. The singer’s most recent release was a non-album single in September 2024, though her last album was in 2022. In the meantime, Hyoyeon hosts her own YouTube talk show, which features guests like SHINee’s Minho and her fellow Girls’ Generation members.
Lucas (루카스)
Despite receiving criticism for his solo debut after his 2021 scandal, former NCT/WayV member Lucas will reportedly make a comeback in early 2025. However, it’s worth noting that the Hong Kong-born idol didn’t even promote his debut album due to the backlash, so it’s unsure what the plans for his upcoming release are.
New Girl Group
Lastly, SM Entertainment will debut its new girl group in the first quarter of 2025. The new girl group will be the company’s first female group in four years since aespa’s debut in 2020. However, the group’s debut has been delayed multiple times since the first announcement, so only time will tell if SM Entertainment will finally stick to the plans.
Which SM Entertainment artist comeback – or debut – are you most excited for?
