K-pop may begin with a song, a dance video, or a performance on stage. But long before a new group meets its fans, someone has to find the people who might become its members.
Today, Korean entertainment agencies are looking far beyond Seoul. They hold auditions in cities around the world, accept videos online, and sometimes contact promising young people through social media. This does not mean that every person they contact will become a trainee—or that every trainee will debut. It means that the first doorway into K-pop is becoming wider and more varied.
TODAY'S QUESTIONWhere does a K-pop career really begin: at an audition, in a direct message, or much earlier, when a child begins to discover what they enjoy and can express?
Agencies are searching
beyond Seoul.
In July 2026, YG Entertainment announced a large global audition, its first of that scale in two years. The audition began in Beijing and was scheduled to continue through cities and regions in China, Japan, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to YG's announcement, applicants born from 2008 through 2015 could apply regardless of gender or nationality. They could choose a field such as singing, rap, dance, visual (camera presence and personal style), acting, or another special talent.
Other Korean agencies have also used international and online routes. JYP Entertainment ended one long-running annual open-audition format after its 20th round, but continued to search for talent through other auditions. ADOR held auditions in 11 cities and accepted many forms of self-expression, including singing, dancing, rap, acting, songwriting, vlogs, and photography.
For a young fan outside Korea, an audition can also become a doorway into Korean language and culture. School schedules, age, respectful speech, teamwork, and communication with adults can shape a young person's experience in Korea. K-pop does not represent every part of Korean life, but learning about the people and customs behind the music can help fans understand it with greater care and curiosity.
That is too broad. One company ended one long-running audition format. Public auditions, global auditions, online applications, and ongoing auditions still exist across the industry.
One door has not closed.
More doors have opened.
From Korea to the world
Agencies now travel to different countries and cities to meet applicants closer to home.
From rooms to screens
A video, online application, or public social post may become the first material an agency reviews.
From one skill to expression
Some auditions accept acting, songwriting, photography, vlogs, and other forms of creativity.
Street casting has not completely disappeared. In-person auditions, online submissions, social media, direct messages, and street casting can all operate at the same time.
Audition and casting:
what is the difference?
The applicant approaches the agency.
They apply through an official open, ongoing, online, or global audition and show a skill or strength.
The agency approaches a possible applicant.
A staff member may notice someone in person or online and invite them to an official evaluation.
A casting message is not a debut offer
Being cast does not mean that someone has been offered a debut. It usually means, “We would like to learn more about your potential.” Identity checks, communication with a parent or guardian, an audition, and further evaluations may follow.
Audition ≠ first success ≠ trainee contract ≠ debut team ≠ debut
What is a
K-pop trainee?
In Korea's entertainment industry, a trainee is a person who trains with an agency before a possible debut. Training may include singing, dancing, performance, language, physical care, media communication, and teamwork. The exact program differs by company and person.
A trainee is not yet a debuted artist. Joining an agency does not guarantee a place in a group, and being considered for a debut team does not guarantee a final debut. Agencies may consider not only what a young person can do today, but also how they learn, respond to feedback, work with others, and grow. Exact company scoring systems are generally not public.
The hidden job
behind the stage
The names of these teams vary. They may be translated as rookie development, new talent development, casting, or audition teams. Their work is more complex than simply giving a business card to someone who stands out.
- decide where and how to search for applicants;
- plan and operate auditions;
- review application forms, videos, and other materials;
- communicate with applicants and families;
- connect promising applicants to further evaluations; and
- organize information, schedules, and feedback.
This work requires observation, communication, cultural awareness, information management, professional ethics, and the ability to see possibility without pretending to predict a person's entire future.
If a young person receives
a casting message
- Check the official source
Find the same information on the company's official website or verified audition account.
- Tell a parent or guardian immediately
A minor should not handle messages, video calls, or meeting plans alone.
- Separate an audition from a paid product
Be careful if someone promises acceptance or debut in return for payment.
- Protect personal information
Do not send identification, a home address, detailed school information, or sensitive photographs before verification.
- Never attend a private meeting alone
A parent or trusted guardian should verify and accompany every in-person step.
Show one strength
in 60 seconds
This is not an audition practice task. It is a way to explore self-expression and to think about how difficult it is to understand a whole person from a short video.
A phone, paper, a pen, and a timer.
Write three things you enjoy or do well. Choose one and make an unedited 60-second video. Improve only one thing, record again, and compare.
What can someone understand about you in 60 seconds? What important things can they not understand?
Notice what the child chooses, how they use feedback, and which part of the process holds their attention.
One acceptance or rejection cannot explain a child's full potential.
An audition is a decision made at a particular moment for a particular company and project. Supporting a child's dream means listening carefully, checking information, protecting the child's safety and education, and allowing exploration within healthy boundaries.
Children who love K-pop do not all need to become performers. Their interest may grow into music, dance, video production, styling, language, marketing, cultural research, or another path that does not yet have a name. Interest is not a contract with the future. It is a doorway to learning.
A K-pop journey does not begin when someone is discovered. It begins when a young person's interests become questions, skills, and meaningful experiences.