SM Entertainment's Casting Director revealed an anecdote about the casting of the group RISE ONEBIN during the special program commemorating SM Entertainment's 30th anniversary.

Titled 'K-POP The Beginning: SMTOWN 30', the program delves into SM's 30-year history, showcasing the past, present, and future of K-POP to captivate global fans. Hosted by BoA and SHINee's Key, the broadcast features candid interviews with SM and music industry insiders, critics, and artists, along with archive footage. It also includes vibrant stage performances from 'SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE] in SEOUL,' held successfully at the Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on January 11-12, enriching viewers with a retrospective of SM's 30-year journey.

The second part of the broadcast, aired on the first day, offered insights into artists such as SHINee, f(x), EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, aespa, RISE, and more. It showcased SM's distinctive music and concept evolution, highlighting their systematic casting and training system paving the way for future K-POP artists and trainees worldwide, building anticipation among music enthusiasts.

During the program, the SM Entertainment Casting Director shed light on the casting anecdote of the visually striking RISE ONEBIN. He shared, "When I first saw ONEBIN's video during the meeting, I mentioned that he was a friend living in Ulsan. I asked the staff to pick him up at Seoul Station and bring him here, which is unusual as we typically don't go to pick up talents. He found his way to the company himself, and I told him that once he arrives in Seoul, any company could take him, so he should come with us. Our staff then picked him up as requested."

Moreover, '2025 SMTOWN: THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE' features 17 tracks, including the new group song and title track 'Thank You,' along with reinterpretations of SM's legendary hits by both junior and senior artists. The full album will be available on various music platforms starting at 6 PM on February 14, the founding anniversary day.