SM Entertainment to launch three new groups this year

SM Entertainment It has been announced that it plans to launch a new IP in 2023, including two boy and girl groups.

SM Entertainment CEO Jang Chul-hyuk announced the plans in a new YouTube video. The K-pop agency’s first new group planned is the latest and last NCT subgroup, which is widely expected Japan NCT Tokyo.

“To this end, we plan to increase the proportion of Japanese members [in NCT]”Through the cooperation with Japanese media companies, we will share the process of SM’s selection of undisclosed trainees and the debut process of members. “

Jang then previewed the two members of the upcoming group and played a clip of the two dancing in the practice room. The SM CEO also noted that the pair are of “Korean and Japanese nationality.”

In addition, the trainees selected through the “pre-debut reality show” will also join the upcoming NCT branch. At the same time, it was previously revealed that SMROOKIES member Shohei will not join the new boy group due to health reasons.

Jang then spoke about plans for a brand new boy group, which he described as “SM’s new IP to kick off the SM 3.0 era” and will star Sungchan and Shotaro, Left NCT earlier today (May 24). Two SMROOKIES members Eunseok and Seunghan will also join.

At the end of the video, Zhang goes on to reveal that SM Entertainment plans to launch a brand new girl group in the fourth quarter of 2023. “The trainees introduced at the March 2023 showcase will be part of this new group,” he added, without specifying which trainees made the cut.

SM Entertainment first hinted at its plans to launch a new group earlier this month when it released a preview of its music lineup planned for the third quarter of 2023At the time, the K-pop agency said it planned to release two new dramas during the time frame.

The K-pop agency also plans to release projects from current artists, including SHINee, EXO, NCT dream, red velvetof Wendy, Girls’ Generationof taeyeon and more.