SMTR25 Into The New World Controversy: Why Fans Are Divided Over the Cover

The road to debut isn't always smooth. SM Entertainment's latest trainee group, SMTR25, is facing a massive wave of backlash after releasing a teaser for a cover of a K-pop holy grail.

The SMTR25 Into The New World Teaser Backlash

On January 23, 2026, the official accounts for SMTR25 dropped a performance teaser for their upcoming variety show, 'Reply High School.' The clip featured 15 trainees, including HANBI and SONGHA, covering Girls' Generation's iconic debut track, 'Into The New World.'

What was intended as a tribute quickly turned into a PR nightmare. Netizens expressed outrage over the choice of song, citing that ITNW is more than just a pop song—it’s a symbol of female empowerment and a cornerstone of Girls' Generation's legacy. Many fans argued that it wasn't appropriate for a male group to take over a song with such specific gendered context.

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Criticism Over 'Man-izing' the Choreography

The backlash didn't stop at the song choice. Fans noticed significant changes to the original choreography, with the trainees adding aggressive, high-energy break-dancing elements. Critics on X (formerly Twitter) labeled this as "man-izing" the song, stripping away its original grace and meaning. "How dare they ruin the context of this meaningful song sang by women just to break dance to it," one user shared, gaining thousands of likes.

Despite the storm, SMTR25 has officially opened their Weverse community to engage with fans. 'Reply High School' is set to premiere on February 13, 2026, at 8:20 PM KST. Whether this controversy will fuel interest or alienate potential fans remains to be seen.