Some fans are speculating that the male trainees introduced for the first time at 'SMTOWN LIVE 2025', known as SMTR25, will undergo a debut survival program produced by SM Entertainment. 

Previously in 2023, SM Entertainment garnered attention for establishing a studio dedicated to broadcasting content production, Studio White. The agency also recruited skilled PDs such as Go Ik Jo ('Show Me The Money'), Park Sang Hyun ('My Teenage Girl'), and Kim Na Yeon ('Street Dance Girls Fighter'), all known for producing survival programs. 

After being founded in 2023, Studio White has yet to produce any known content under the studio name. SM Entertainment's first and only known survival series, 'NCT Universe : LASTART', was produced by the subsidiary SM C&C. 

Meanwhile, according to Yoon Hee Jun, chief at the 'New Artist Development Center' at SM, hinted at plans to "greet fans using a new method" when discussing SMTR25's surprise appearance at 'SMTOWN LIVE 2025'. 

Now, based on the above clues, some fans have begun discussing the likelihood of SMTR25 competing in a survival program some time later this year.

Netizens commented, 

"If SM actually did a large-scale survival show, imagine how popular those trainees would be."

"If they recruited all those figures from CJ, they might as well put them to use and make something interesting."

"If they do it right, it could be a sure ticket to immediate top-tier status after debut."

"Please do a survival show.. I've been craving another one."

"They literally performed once at 'SMTOWN' and they already have pocket fanbases forming all over the world. A full-scale survival show and it could get real fierce."

"I'm personally curious to see how SM would do a real survival."

"It would be interesting to see SM trainees show how the SM system works, but the fan wars could turn chaotic real fast."

"I'm personally opposed to it. Survivals aren't SM style.."

"I don't like how survival shows end up projecting a certain image on each trainee."

"If they're doing a survival, it should be with each trainee on equal ground, but some of the trainees have already gained sizable fandoms."

'iI'm just worried that if SM does a survival too, then the winning trainees won't have SM's signature charms and will just be visuals picked by fans." 

Do you want to see SM Entertainment launching a full-scale survival program?

SEE ALSO: SM male trainees already popular in China