SHINee’s Key premieres ‘Hunter’ at SMTOWN LIVE 2025 in Tokyo Dome

Key of SHINee electrified the Tokyo Dome stage during ‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025’, delivering the first-ever performance of his upcoming title track ‘Hunter’ before its official release. The surprise reveal turned the venue into a frenzy of excitement.

The concert, held on August 9 (KST), featured Key premiering the title song from his third full-length album Hunter, set for release on August 11. As soon as the music began, the performance fused a powerful and dynamic sound, refined vocals, intricate emotional expression, and high-energy choreography. The concept-driven staging drew the audience of more than 50,000 into a wave of cheers and applause.

The title track ‘Hunter’ is a dramatic dance number portraying an obsessive protagonist and the “pleasure in pain” experienced within such a relationship. Key’s signature stage command and unique artistic interpretation elevated the song’s impact, with grand production elements and detailed choreography perfectly matching the massive scale of Tokyo Dome.

The online buzz was immediate. Fans called the track “perfect for summer,” “another stage-destroyer like ‘Gasoline’,” and praised its “addictively catchy chorus.” Comments also highlighted how Key, now 18 years into his career, remains trend-forward: “The concept fits him perfectly,” “the song and choreography exceeded expectations,” and “the performance was both refreshing and intense.” Many expressed amazement at his ability to continually bring something new while maintaining the distinctive SHINee essence.

This marks the second time Key has chosen an SMTOWN stage to launch a major comeback. In 2022, during ‘SMTOWN LIVE 2022’ in Suwon, he surprised fans with the debut of ‘Gasoline’, leading to a highly successful album promotion. By premiering his new title track in a large-scale setting once again, Key reaffirmed both his creative vision and his ability to leave a lasting impression.

On August 7, he hosted the ‘KEY ‘Hunter’ Comeback Live’, where he previewed highlights of all 10 tracks from the new album for fans worldwide. The livestream included behind-the-scenes stories from the album’s production, insights into his songwriting process, and detailed explanations of the performance concepts — all of which heightened anticipation for the official release.

Key will drop his third studio album Hunter on August 11, followed by his solo concert tour 2025 KEYLAND : Uncanny Valley. The tour will open September 26–28 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Ticketlink Live Arena, continue on October 4 at Taipei Music Center, and conclude November 29–30 at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Gymnasium First Gymnasium.

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