It takes years and years of struggling and determination to finally live the dream of being an idol. Find out the different steps your favorite stars have taken to become what they are now.
Step One: Pre-audition training
It all starts with training! With so much competition, kids have to be the best of the best to get noticed at an audition. They spend years practicing at academies, and home, honing their craft.
If they’re really lucky, they may just end up being scouted for auditions.
Step Two: Auditioning
Once they’re confident enough in their skills, they seek out auditions constantly. Going from company to company, auditioning over and over. It’s not uncommon for kids to participate in 30+ auditions.
Step Three: Signing Contracts
Upon passing an audition they may be offered a trainee contract of 2~4 years. This isn’t a guarantee of debut; it’s simply a contract to accept an individual into the company’s training regimen. These contracts are how rookie teams – like the famous SM Rookies or JYP Trainees are set up.
Step Four: Rigorous Training
The trainees undergo intense training in singing, dance, acting, language and more while competing with each other for the spotlight. Only a small percentage will pass and be offered an artist contract. Some trainees stay that way for years before they are offered a chance at debut.
Step Five: Dropping Out of School
For those without school (or those who choose to drop out to focus on their career), a day might last up to 15 hours, from 10 am to 10 pm with extra practice running late into the evenings. If they don’t fully drop out, they are often homeschool or spend large parts of their year away from classes.
Step Six: Extra “Homework”
Mandatory exercise, regulated meals, and regular weigh-ins keep the aspiring stars’ bodies in check, while sex education & etiquette lessons are also provided on top of regular training.
Step Seven: Recognizing Low Chances
Despite this rigorous training, very few make it, with only a small percentage of trainees being able actually join groups and debut. The agencies hand pick only their favorite trainees to debut in groups.
Step Eight: Debut
While debuting is an accomplishment after years of hard preparation, in actually its just another level of competition. With so many groups, the idols have to work even harder to get their group known and recognized, otherwise they may end up going through re-training and new re-debut programs like Produce 101, MIX NINE, or The Unit.
Step Nine: Achieve Fame
The successful groups will experience incredible fame — marketing contracts, films, mansions, and more extravagance comes alongside a K-Pop career.
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