'SMTOWN LIVE 2022' to stream live for free on Jan. 1

SM Entertainment's online concert "SMTOWN LIVE 2022" will stream worldwide for free on Jan. 1, 2022. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

SM Entertainment's online concert "SMTOWN LIVE 2022" will stream worldwide for free, according to the agency Thursday.

The concert will be streamed live from 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, under the full name of "SM TOWN LIVE 2022: SMCU EXPRESS@KWANGYA."

The live concert will be available through YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Beyond LIVE.

It will also air on international streaming platforms such as Japan's KNTV; Indonesia's RCTI+, VISON +, Vidio, InsertLive.com and TRANS TV; Thailand's TrueID; and Vietnam's VieON, FPT Play, Zing MP3, and POP.

Annually held since 2008, this year's SM TOWN LIVE is set in "kwangya," which is the Korean word for wilderness.

Artists will gather at the SMCU Express Station in kwangya. SMCU stands for SM Culture Universe.

Popular SM Entertainment artists and bands including Kangta; BoA; Girls' Generation's Taeyeon and Hyoyeon; Red Velvet; Super Junior; Exo's Kai; SHINee's Key, Minho and Onew; NCT U; NCT 127; NCT Dream; WayV; and aespa, will take part in the upcoming concert with performances and collaborations that have not been seen before.

Founded in 1995, SM Entertainment is one of the most prominent entertainment agencies in Korea along with JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment, handling the entire music making process from casting, training and producing.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]