SM Entertainment is set to officially introduce its male trainee team SMTR25 through a new reality program, marking a key step toward the launch of its next boy group. Mnet’s upcoming reality show ‘Reply: High School’ is scheduled to premiere on February 13 at 8:20 p.m. KST. The program is a collaborative project between SM Entertainment and production company Egg Is Coming.
A Time-Slip Reality Concept
‘Reply: High School’ is described as a time-slip reality series in which the members of SMTR25 enroll in a fictional school called Friendship High. Through the setting, the trainees will experience key moments of Korean pop culture spanning from the 1990s to the 2010s. Rather than focusing on direct competition, the show aims to follow the trainees as they naturally explore music, performance, and identity while searching for their own answers about debut and growth.
Who Are SMTR25?
SMTR25 is a trainee team consisting of 15 members. The group first drew attention in January 2025, when members Hamin and Nicholas appeared in SM Entertainment’s 30th-anniversary brand film ‘The Culture.’
Additional members including Hanbi, Songha, Daniel, Hyunjun, Catshio, Justin, Haruta, Kachin, and Tata later made strong impressions through commemorative anniversary performances and a cover of EXO’s ‘Wolf.’ The lineup will be further expanded with previously unrevealed trainees Jaewon, Woorin, Sadaharu, and Charlie, who will be introduced to viewers for the first time through the show.
Beyond the Stage
According to the production team, ‘Reply: High School’ will showcase not only the trainees’ on-stage charisma but also their everyday lives, offering a look at their personalities, friendships, and growth as aspiring artists. The format is designed to balance performance with authenticity, allowing audiences to become familiar with the members ahead of a potential official debut.
SM’s Next Boy Group Plans
Earlier this month, SM Entertainment released a teaser video titled ‘SM NEXT 3.0’ on its social media platforms, officially signaling plans to debut a new boy group in 2026. Industry observers view ‘Reply: High School’ as a central platform for introducing SMTR25 to the public as part of that rollout. As the premiere approaches, attention is now focused on how SMTR25 will be positioned and how the reality show will shape the group’s path toward debut.
Editor’s Insights: SMTR25’s ‘Reply High School’ and the New Blue Chip Strategy
The premiere of ‘Reply: High School’ on February 13, 2026, marks the official launch of SM Entertainment’s most ambitious boy group project since the debut of NCT. By partnering with the hit-making production house Egg Is Coming (frequent collaborators with Na Young-seok), SM is moving away from the traditional “high-concept/lore” trainee reveals toward a more “human-centric” variety show format. This strategy, as outlined in the SM NEXT 3.0 vision, focuses on building an immediate emotional connection between the 15-member trainee team and a global audience. The “Time-Slip” concept—where trainees divided into 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s classes experience past K-culture—cleverly utilizes SM’s own legendary 30-year catalog (reinterpreting classics like Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World”) to validate the group as the rightful heirs to the K-pop throne.
From an editorial perspective, the immediate announcement of the “Reply High School: Graduation Trip” fan meeting tour (scheduled for May 2–3, 2026, at the Seoul Olympic Hall) signals that SMTR25 has already achieved significant market viability before an official debut date is even set. The group’s appearance on Na Young-seok’s ‘Channel Fullmoon’ further cements their status as “Entertainment Idols,” a label that historically ensures domestic longevity. As of April 2026, we are tracking the “Wichu” effect—the growing popularity of individual members like Hamin and Nicholas—who have already become viral “Blue Chips” for Gen Z lifestyle brands. All eyes are now on the rumored Q3 2026 debut, as SMTR25 is positioned not just as a new group, but as a cultural bridge connecting the nostalgia of the 1st generation with the technical precision of the 5th.