Foreign young talents flock to K-pop auditions

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In global auditions in Canada and the United States last summer, Korean talent scouts were awed by the number of non-Korean participants. They expected ethnic Koreans but there were many different ethnic groups and races including Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Southeast Asians. 


“Non-Koreans made up 60 percent of the participants,” Yang Min-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, was quoted as saying by Chosun Ilbo. “We intended to select a range of new talents with an open mind but it was a surprise that so many foreigners showed up. They participated in auditions after taking into account the possibility that they could become international stars through Korean management companies.”

According to YG Entertainment, over half of the participants who entered auditions in Seattle, London, Berlin, and New York in the summer were non-Koreans. 

The phenomenon is attributed to a surge in the number of young foreigners who wish to become trainees with major Korean management companies like SM, YG, and JYP amid growing interest in K-pop stars such as Psy, Big Bang, and Girls’ Generation. 


Miss A, a girl band of JYP Entertainment. Fei and Jia of Miss A are Chinese (photo: Yonhap News).

 

Local management companies are also considering creating multiracial boy or girl bands and pursuing related projects. SM Entertainment, a leading management company, has been regularly holding auditions outside Korea especially in the United States and Japan. 

“The number of foreign participants in auditions continued to start rising two years ago,” Kim Eun-ah, a spokeswoman at SM, told Chosun Ilbo in an interview. “Not only non-Korean Asians but also white, black, and Hispanics sometimes account for nearly 70 percent of al

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Comments

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maddienow #1
Chapter 48: Hi! I'm in America and I'm trying to audition online. I did a dance cover of Taemin's Goodbye because I really like the choreography. It's very unique and my dance style is similar, so I feel like it brings out my talents and personality. Do you think that's acceptable for a video, or should I re-film and do a freestyle instead? Thank you!
SuperSzewwy #2
Chapter 48: Btw YG just brought back the email auditions, the smule is still running and has audition songs on it but I'm not sure if they're really going to pay attention or update it anymore.
Aroha98 #3
Chapter 51: Are the second and third rounds in person? Meaning we have to be in Korea at the time?
Mariam03 #4
Chapter 40: oh gosh! i can't even find the official website! please help me please!
Glory_Easter #5
Chapter 42: Haha,sure..I won't let my dream fall..
simplypotat0 #6
Chapter 51: The Fantagio page has been updated. Now, it has become foreigner friendly, since the form now ask for your country and your phone number and address can be imputed without following the Korean format. I managed to audition online without any problem, so I encourage the ones who want to audition for the company to do so!
tuazon
#7
Chapter 47: im audition for modelling in south korea
Kimdaerong #8
Chapter 12: what if one person doesn`t dance only composing and singing is her/hes talent?
maddiastro #9
Chapter 51: the website doesnt work and they wont send a email back
what do i do
VIPBigbang1000 #10
Chapter 6: On the JYP audition application, it has a 'For a brief introduction' part. Is that brief introduction for the video/audio or a self introduction?