SHINee’s Taemin and SM: Rumors of Conflict Surface, and Taemin Stresses One Key Point [Official Statement]

SHINee member Taemin's agency, Big Planet Made(BPM Entertainment), has issued an official response to the recent controversy surrounding his absence from the SM Town Live 2025 concert.

On January 15, the agency shared a statement through its official social media channels, addressing the concerns raised by fans on online communities and social platforms. The agency stated, “We are aware of the concerns stemming from posts shared on social media and online communities regarding Taemin's SHINee activities. We would like to clarify that all claims made in these posts are completely false and contain misinformation. We plan to take strong action against these false allegations.”

Big Planet Made emphasized its unwavering support for Taemin’s activities with SHINee, saying, “Taemin has a deep affection for SHINee, and we have always supported and encouraged his group activities. Additionally, we are committed to ensuring that Taemin receives fair treatment and continues his artistic journey with full backing from our agency.”

The SM Town Live 2025 concert took place on January 11 and 12 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. While SHINee members Key and Minho were in attendance, Taemin and Onew were notably absent.

Through a fan communication platform, Taemin addressed the situation, apologizing to fans: “I’m sorry we couldn’t showcase SHINee at SM Town. I wanted to quickly resolve the discussions between the companies and show you SHINee, but these conversations are taking some time.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Onew’s agency representative posted cryptic remarks on a personal account, saying, “Let’s set things straight. Let’s act with integrity. I’m tired of these last-minute cancellations. Let’s cooperate.” However, the representative clarified that these comments were not directed at SM Entertainment.

Speculations arose that external circumstances might have influenced SHINee's inability to perform as a full group, prompting Big Planet Made to release its statement to address fan concerns.

Taemin debuted as a member of SHINee in 2008 under SM Entertainment, contributing to numerous hits like Replay, Ring Ding Dong, Lucifer, Sherlock, View, and Everybody. In April 2023, after spending many years with SM, Taemin transitioned to Big Planet Made to further his solo career while continuing as a SHINee member.

Below is the full statement released by Taemin’s agency: