The free online concert, "SMTOWN LIVE- Culture Humanity" sets record-breaking achievement as it wrapped up with 35.8M live viewers around the world!

As the world celebrated New Year's day, the global online music festival held by SM Entertainment and its artists called "SMTOWN LIVE - Culture Humanity" heated K-pop fans around the world, as it was broadcast free of charge around the globe via various platforms including Naver V LIVE, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok from 1 p.m. KST on Jan. 1.

Earlier then, reports confirmed that the concert recorded about 35.8million live viewers in 186 countries, the largest number of viewers in the history of Korean online concerts! The annual concert, which was held online due to the surge of coronavirus patients in Korea, once again proved just how massive the global popularity and power of SM artists are.

HERE's What You Missed: NCT, SUPER JUNIOR, TVXQ, Aespa, and More Excellent Lineup and Performances

In the opening video of the concert, the different logo and banner of every K-pop group and artists under SM Entertainment appeared, followed by an introductory message of Lee Soo Man, the executive producer and founder of SM Entertainment.

He said, "Music has no barriers. We can communicate without language, and it can be a great comfort and healing for each other and one another. SM and I are trying to give you that kind of music. The core of Culture Technology (CT), the foundation of SM's production system, is 'Humanity,' and today's free concert is to bless and celebrate the humanity of SM fans who are with us now."

Lee also revealed the theme of the concert along with SM artists, which is "Be mind, be humble, be the love."

As for the concert proper, various artists showed outstanding introduction numbers including NCT DREAM's "Ridin," WayV's "Take Off," NCT 127's "Punch," Red Velvet's "Bad Boy" and "Peek-A-Boo," Kai's "Mmmh" & "Reason," Taemin's "Criminal" and "Idea" that indeed heated the start of the program.

The tracks of SM artists released in 2020 such as Aespa's "Black Mamba," NCT DREAM's "Deja Vu 舞代路)," NCT U's "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)'," & "90's Love," SuperM "One (Monster & Infinity)," Taeyeon's "Happy" & "What Do I Call You?" gave excitement to the fans.

A total of 39 performances were given, including the collaboration stage of Raiden (feat. Espa Winter) "Yours" and "Asteroid" (feat. WayV Yangyang), WAYV's "Take Off" has excited audiences. In addition to this, SuperM's "Better Days," Super Junior K.R.Y's "Our Season of Shining Blue" gave hope to the viewers.

The performances of the K-pop icon's Super Junior, TVXQ, and Kangta (H.O.T) also received several applause for their unyielding skills and influence.

HIGHLIGHT of the Concert: Red Velvet Performed "Psycho" as five-member + SHINee's Comeback 2021 Teaser

On the other hand, K-pop enthusiasts and music fans rejoiced after a video that heralded SHINee's comeback as a whole in 2021 was released.

In particular, the video was played twice during the first part and second part of the concert, and SHINee's remarkable tracks throughout the year have been played. The word "SHINee's Back 2021" caught the attention of the viewers, teasing their return this year. The group immediately claimed a trending spot on SNS particularly on Twitter without appearance.

Also, the much-anticipated five-member "Psycho" stage of Red Velvet finally happened, following Wendy's stage accident in 2019. After a year, Wendy finally joined the hit song's performance, as she was unable to promote with the other members due to her injuries.

At the end of the performance, all the cast members made the grand finale with a "Hope" video of cheering for hope and New Year's greetings, and after-stage DJs, including Raiden, Ginjo, and IMLAY, also gave exciting EDM performances with remix sets of SM artists' hit songs, which everyone could not meet offline but enjoy the festival.

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SM co-CEO Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Joon said, "K-pop is not just music, but a medium for sharing and communicating emotions close to life. We have prepared this free performance to spend 2020 with the Corona 19 Pandemics, welcome the New Year, cheer for K-pop fans around the world who have passed through difficult times, and give them bright hope and energy for a better future."

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Written by Eunice Dawson