Thousands of K-pop fans gathered at London's O2 Arena on Saturday, June 28, 2025, for the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert, featuring a star-studded lineup of K-pop idols. The concert, organized by SM Entertainment, brought together some of Korean music's biggest names, including Minho of SHINee, Aespa, NCT Dream, Red Velvet, and WayV. The event was a celebration of SM Entertainment's 30th anniversary and marked the first time the SMTOWN LIVE concert series has been held in the UK.
The lineup included TVXQ!, Hyoyeon of Girls' Generation, Suho, Chanyeol and Kai of EXO, NCT 127, RIIZE, NCT WISH, naevis, dearALICE, and Hearts2Hearts. The concert showcased a mix of K-pop legends and rising stars, reflecting SM Entertainment's legacy and its vision for the future of K-pop.
Minho's performance at SMTOWN LIVE 2025 was particularly special, marking his first UK performance since 2011 when he last performed with SHINee. That year, SHINee made history as the first Asian artist to perform at Abbey Road Studios. Minho has since established himself as a multifaceted entertainer, with a successful solo career in music, film, K-dramas, and theater. His debut solo album, "Call Back," released in November, topped charts in South Korea and reached the top of the iTunes Album Chart in 14 countries.
WayV, the Chinese subgroup of NCT, returned to London for the first time since their UK debut in June 2023. NCT Dream, another subgroup of NCT, performed in London just seven months after their headline show at OVO Arena Wembley as part of their 2024 world tour.
The SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert in London was not only a celebration of K-pop music but also a historic event, marking the first time all NCT units – NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT Wish – have performed together in Europe. The concert featured solo performances from Minho, Suho, Chanyeol, and Kai, adding to the diverse range of performances. Kai of EXO made his first UK stage appearance in three years, performing his Afrobeat-inspired hit "Wait On Me".
The concert was originally scheduled to take place at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham but was moved to The O2 Arena to provide a better fan experience, with improved accessibility and protection from unpredictable weather. Tickets already purchased were automatically reassigned.
SM Entertainment has sold an estimated 60 million albums across all its artists. The SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert in London was part of a global tour that included stops in Seoul, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.
