SMTOWN 2025 Sparks Outrage With Only 12 Female Artists Performing

SMTOWN 2025’s Gender Disparity Raises Concerns

The SMTOWN 2025 concert’s female artist lineup has sparked intense debate within the K-pop community. Only twelve female artists will perform at SM Entertainment’s 30th-anniversary celebration, a number that has shocked fans worldwide.

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This stark gender disparity has left many questioning the company’s commitment to its female talents and raised broader concerns about gender representation in K-pop.

Current Female Artist Lineup and Its Impact

The current female lineup reveals a concerning pattern in SM’s artist management approach. aespa stands as the only complete girl group performing at the event, representing the company’s newest generation of female talent. Red Velvet, one of SM’s most successful girl groups, will perform with just four members following Wendy’s withdrawal due to personal reasons. This reduction further diminishes the already limited female presence at the event.

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Adding to the roster, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon will appear solo, marking a significant absence of other members from one of K-pop’s most iconic girl groups. Veteran artists BoA and S.E.S’s Bada will round out the female representation, bringing their legendary status to the event. Min Ziwoon from SM’s subsidiary KRUCIALIZE completes the female lineup, bringing the total to just twelve performers.

This contains an image of Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon posing for the camera wearing white boots and a black and white dress

Male Artist Dominance and Industry Implications

The male artist attendance at SMTOWN 2025 presents a stark contrast, exceeding fifty performers and creating a significant gender imbalance. Even without counting NCT members, who make up a substantial portion of the male lineup, male performers still outnumber females by more than double.

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This disparity becomes even more striking when considering SM Entertainment’s rich history of successful girl groups and female soloists.

Notable Absences and Fan Reactions

Several high-profile absences have intensified fan disappointment and criticism. Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, one of SM’s most successful solo artists, revealed she couldn’t perform due to insufficient preparation support from the company. This revelation has led to discussions about the company’s resource allocation between male and female artists.

Red Velvet’s Wendy’s withdrawal, while cited as personal reasons, has added to the growing concern about female representation at major K-pop events. Fans have taken to social media platforms to express their disappointment and demand explanations from SM Entertainment regarding the significant gender disparity.

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Industry-Wide Implications

The SMTOWN 2025 lineup has sparked broader discussions about gender representation in the K-pop industry. Industry experts and fans alike are questioning whether this disparity reflects a larger trend in how entertainment companies prioritize and support their male artists over female talents.

This controversy has also led to conversations about the need for more balanced representation at major K-pop events.

Final Thoughts: SMTOWN 2025’s Gender Representation Crisis

The significant disparity between male and female performers at SMTOWN 2025 raises important questions about gender equality in K-pop. As the industry continues to grow globally, the need for balanced representation becomes increasingly crucial.