SM Entertainment is set to debut a new girl group for the first time in nearly five years since aespa. The announcement was made during the company’s 30th-anniversary joint concert, SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [The Culture, The Future] in Seoul, held on January 11 and 12 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
The concert celebrated SM Entertainment’s 30-year legacy, showcasing the evolution of idols from the early days of H.O.T. to the latest sensations like aespa.
The event kicked off with iconic performances by senior artists, including TVXQ’s 'Rising Sun,' Super Junior’s 'Burn The Floor,' and BoA’s 'Hurricane Venus.' It then transitioned to hits by younger artists, such as aespa’s 'Whiplash' and 'Armageddon,' and EXO’s 'First Snow,' building an electric atmosphere.
On the final day, January 12, SM made the official announcement of their new girl group through a VCR trailer. The group, named Hearts2Hearts (H2H), was introduced as an eight-member multinational team featuring members from Korea, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. The group is scheduled to debut next month, with member profiles already circulating on social media, generating significant buzz within the K-pop industry.
Hearts2Hearts marks SM Entertainment’s first large group member girl group since Girls’ Generation and their first girl group debut since aespa in 2020. The announcement has drawn widespread attention, given aespa’s successful rise as a leading act of the fourth generation of K-pop.
Aespa debuted in November 2020 with their digital single 'Black Mamba,' followed by hits like 'Next Level' and 'Supernova,' cementing their status as one of the top fourth-generation girl groups. Similarly, aespa debuted six years after Red Velvet, raising expectations for what concept and storyline Hearts2Hearts will bring to the table.
As anticipation builds, fans and industry insiders alike are eager to see how Hearts2Hearts will carry forward SM’s rich legacy while carving out their unique place in the competitive K-pop landscape.