SM Entertainment’s 30th Anniversary Celebrated by Artists Across Generations…BoA Talks 28 Years of Growth Together

To mark its 30th anniversary, SM Entertainment successfully held a commemorative concert titled “SM Town Live 2025 [The Culture, The Future] in Seoul” at Gochek Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, from the 11th to the 12th. The event and interviews with artists from various generations were featured in the SBS variety program “K-POP The Beginning: SMTOWN 30,” which aired on the 28th. Notably, BoA shared her thoughts during the program. She revealed that she has been associated with SM Entertainment for 28 years, including her time as a trainee. Describing the company as more of a “school” than an ordinary agency, Boa said, “It’s the place where I spent my teens, twenties, and thirties, so it feels more like a school than a company.” This statement reflects SM Entertainment’s role as an institution that has accompanied artists throughout their entire growth process, going beyond being just an entertainment company. Key of SHINee, who also appeared on the program, mentioned that he joined as a trainee in his second year of middle school and is now 20 years affiliated with SM Entertainment. He joked, “It’s been 20 years since I joined, but there are so many seniors above me,” which drew laughter. Boa responded playfully, “In a regular company, I might have already retired by now with my severance pay.” This exchange humorously highlighted their long-standing partnership. Kangta, the original member of H.O.T., recalled the group’s debut in 1996 in an interview with a media outlet, saying it still gives him chills. Describing it as “the beginning of SM’s legend,” he emphasized how SM played a pioneering role during the early 1990s when the K-POP industry was taking shape. SBS’s special program “K-POP The Beginning: SMTOWN 30” serves as a comprehensive look at SM Entertainment’s 30 years, which are essentially the history of K-POP itself. Through this program, the memories and growth journeys of artists from multiple generations—including H.O.T., TVXQ!, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, SUPER JUNIOR, Trainee, Leehan, Kai, Kangta, Debut, BLACKPINK, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans—with the company were brought to light. The testimonies of artists representing different eras revealed how SM Entertainment has remained a central force in the 30-year growth of the K-POP industry.