PHOTOS How K-pop's past, present and future come together at SMTOWN LIVE in London

Minho of SHINee greets the press on the red carpet of "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," the first ever K-pop festival at London's iconic O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of Nieca Mae

One of SM's biggest acts, RIIZE, greets press and fans on the red carpet of "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," the first ever K-pop festival at London's iconic O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of Nieca Mae

K-pop icons NCT DREAM take photos and answer questions from the red carpet of "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," the first ever K-pop festival at London's iconic O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of Nieca Mae

Hitmakers aespa answer questions on the red carpet of "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," the first ever K-pop festival at London's iconic O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of Nieca Mae

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment brought together 14 of the industry's biggest stars, from K-pop pioneers to next-gen rookies, for the first ever K-pop festival, "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," at London's iconic O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

SMTR25, SM’s next-generation trainees, treat fans to masterful covers of iconic K-pop hits like SHINee’s “Lucifer” and EXO’s “Growl," at London's O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Rookie K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts perform "The Chase" and "Butterflies" for thousands of fans at London's O2 Arena, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

British boy group dearALICE perform their debut single "Ariana" for a landmark hometown show at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. "It means the world that we are here at The O2 in our hometown," dearALICE said. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Boy group NCT WISH treat fans to a performance of their hit singles "Wish" and "Steady" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Chart-toppers RIIZE perform "Ember to Solar" from their first full-length album, "ODYSSEY," at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

After a soldout Wembley Arena concert in March, aespa returned to London with powerful performances of their No. 1 hits "Whiplash" and "Next Level" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Fourth-generation icons NCT DREAM perform hit tracks like "Hot Sauce" and "Smoothie" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

WayV, the Chinese unit of NCT, play to thousands of fans with a special performance of 2019's hit single "Love Talk" and last year's "Frequency" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

K-pop icons NCT 127 treat fans to a performance of the chart-topping single "Kick It" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Red Velvet's Joy, Seulgi and Irene delight fans with the hits that made them K-pop icons, like 2017's "Red Flavor," at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

EXO's Chanyeol, Suho and Kai reunite for a special cover of H.O.T.'s "Git it Up" at "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Hyoyeon of Girls' Generation treats fans to a solo performance of her track "Retro Romance" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

SHINee's Minho performs his latest single "Something About U" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

TVXQ's U-know and Changmin open "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]" at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Fans celebrate SM Entertainment's multigenerational K-pop icons at the O2 Arena in London, June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Fans gather outside the O2 Arena in London for "SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]," June 29. Courtesy of SM Entertainment