Exciting news for K-Pop fans! SM Entertainment is set to debut a new girl group, marking their first since aespa five years ago.

On November 5, SM shared their financial results, revealing a revenue of 242.2 billion won and an operating profit of 13.3 billion won for the third quarter of this year.

However, they also noted a 9% decrease in revenue and a 73.6% drop in operating profit compared to last year, mainly due to lower album sales and expenses from producing content for their new UK boy group, DEAR ALICE.

Looking ahead, SM plans to boost its artist promotions in the upcoming months. The highly anticipated new girl group is scheduled to debut in the first quarter of next year, as part of SM's strategy to expand its intellectual property (IP).

This new group joins a lineup that already includes successful acts like RIIZE, NCT WISH, and the virtual artist, nævis. A single is expected to be released alongside promotions for the new group.

Meanwhile, aespa has been thriving with their mini-album Whiplash, which dropped on October 21, and they have been performing individual member solo singles at their concerts.

This follows a string of hits like Supernova. In November, SHINee's Minho will also release his first full-length album, and NCT DREAM will unveil their fourth studio album.

Additionally, SM has a busy schedule ahead with the release of TVXQ's new Japanese album and their 20th-anniversary concert in Japan.

Upcoming projects include NCT WISH’s Japanese album, NCT Yuta’s mini-album, and Red Velvet's Irene's solo debut. Fans can also look forward to new mini-albums from Taeyeon, WayV, and singles from nævis.

As 2025 marks SM's 30th anniversary, the company is preparing special projects, including an SMTOWN LIVE concert and a commemorative album featuring various SM artists.

Co-CEO Jang Cheol Hyuk emphasized that the new girl group's debut will strengthen their artist lineup and expressed gratitude to fans for their ongoing support. He stated, "We have exciting projects planned to celebrate our 30th anniversary, so please stay tuned!"

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Former JYP Entertainment trainee Song Minyoung recently opened up about her emotional journey as a trainee and how her long-awaited debut was suddenly canceled.

A video titled "Idol Trainee, Working Holiday Traveler, and Teacher Go on a Trip" was uploaded to the YouTube channel GwakTube, where Song Minyoung shared her story.

In the video, GwakTube went on a two-day trip with fellow Koreans he met at a Japanese language school in Hokkaido. One of them was Song Minyoung, who previously appeared on Mnet’s 2015 survival show SIXTEEN—the program that formed TWICE. Back then, she was praised for her amazing vocal skills.

During dinner, GwakTube asked, "Do trainees have to diet a lot? I never thought I’d meet a former JYP trainee here in Japan."

Song Minyoung replied, "I never thought I’d meet GwakTube here either," before adding, "Trainees have to diet a lot. I started dieting when I was in eighth grade. I trained for six years, putting my entire middle and high school life into it."

When asked about the weight requirements, she revealed, "My standard weight was 47kg (103 lbs), but I was once told to lose more, down to 44kg (97 lbs)."

Then, she shared a heartbreaking experience: "Before TWICE debuted, there was already a group called SIXMIX, and six of us were supposed to debut. We had a set debut date, filmed a music video, and even finished recording our songs. But suddenly, everything got canceled."

She continued, "Then, out of nowhere, the company announced they would be launching SIXTEEN. So I participated, but while the others debuted, I was eliminated."

Song Minyoung admitted that the experience left a lasting impact on her: "I worked so hard to never feel ashamed in front of others. I used to believe that if I gave my all, I would succeed. But after going through this, I realized that effort alone isn’t enough. Since then, I haven't been able to put my all into anything again."

Listening to her, GwakTube shared his thoughts: "I’ve had times when I worked really hard, but things didn’t go my way, and times when I didn’t try as hard, yet things worked out. I think luck plays a big role. Hard work is important, but in the end, luck has to be on your side too."

Song Minyoung’s story is touching hearts, as many admire her perseverance despite the challenges she faced.

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