Get Ready for SM Entertainment’s New Boy Band: Exclusive Debut Coming in the Second Half of This Year!

SM Entertainment is gearing up to introduce a new boy band in the second half of this year. An industry source mentioned that while the exact debut date isn’t set, groups typically take around five months to prepare, suggesting the launch could happen later this year.

Fans are buzzing with speculation about a former Hybe trainee named JJ possibly joining the new group. The 19-year-old, who is Japanese-American, recently showcased his talent as part of the SMTR25 at the “SM Town Live 2025 in Seoul” concert. This group of 25 male trainees performed popular songs like SHINee’s “Lucifer” and EXO’s “Growl.” JJ stood out, appearing prominently on the big screens during the show.

JJ first became known through Hybe’s YouTube show “Trainee A” in 2021, which followed aspiring artists aiming to debut. He was among the seven finalists but switched to SM Entertainment after not making the final cut at Hybe.

So far, SM Entertainment hasn’t officially announced the new boy band. Instead, they are currently focused on launching a new girl group named Heart2Heart next month.

Co-CEO Tak Young-jun shared earlier this year that the company aims to debut two new K-pop groups annually. Initially, they planned to launch a boy band last year but decided to wait until this year to better align with the company’s 30th anniversary celebration. This strategic timing might help the new group shine without being overshadowed by other major events.