EXO's Suho Shows Love for Junior Artists at SM Town Live 2025

On January 12, 2025, EXO's Suho expressed his continued affection for junior artists during the 'SM Town Live 2025 [The Culture, The Future] in Seoul' concert held at the Gocheok Sky Dome. He remarked, "I watched the trainees perform 'Growl,' and there were quite a few issues."

This concert celebrated the 30th anniversary of SM Entertainment, showcasing the rich musical heritage the company has built over three decades, which laid the foundation for the global K-pop phenomenon. The event featured not only SM artists but also 25 trainees and artists from SM's affiliated labels, generating much anticipation.

EXO, who made waves with their hit 'Growl,' also took the stage. Since their debut at the 2012 MAMA awards, EXO has released numerous hits including 'Overdose,' 'Call Me Baby,' 'Ko Ko Bop,' 'Lotto,' and 'Don't Mess Up My Tempo,' solidifying their status as top K-pop idols both domestically and internationally.

Although the full group could not perform due to recent military service and agency changes, Suho and Chanyeol delighted fans with a duet of 'First Snow' and showcased their solo tracks 'Dot Line Plane' and 'Black Again.'

Chanyeol shared updates with fans, stating, "We were preparing for the encore and SM Town performances after finishing our live tour." Suho added, "I felt nostalgic watching the performances of senior and junior artists. The seniors were fantastic, and the juniors performed 'Growl' and other EXO songs afterward."

The trainees, dubbed 'the future of SM,' performed 'Growl,' while NCT Dream was set to present 'Love Me Right' during the concert. The 11-member group SMTR25 (2025 SM Rookies) showcased their visuals and skills, reaffirming their place under the top K-pop agency. NCT Dream's previous performance of 'Love Me Right' also received enthusiastic responses from fans.

However, Suho surprised everyone by pointing out, "I noticed some issues," humorously adding that trainees should have some flaws that fans find endearing. He concluded with pride, saying, "It truly feels like SM."