'Heart Signal' production team presents new audition show 'Stars Awakening'

From left, TV personality Jun Hyun-moo, singer Kang Seung-yoon, lyricist Kim Ea-na, singers Yoon Jong-shin, Lee Seung-hwan and Younha, dancer Noze, and producer Park Chul-hwan pose during an online press conference for the new audition show, "Stars Awakening," in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Channel A

Celebrity panelists will not be judges but mentors

By Lee Gyu-lee

The production team of Channel A's hit reality dating show, "Heart Signal," teamed up again to launch a new audition show, "Stars Awakening," which premiered Thursday.

"'Stars Awakening' is the show that will foster an icon of this era. It's the story of those who dedicate their young adulthood to their dream of becoming a star," the show's chief producer, Park Chul-hwan, said during an online press conference for the new show, Thursday.

The survival show invites 108 contestants, divided into three categories: vocalists, singer-songwriters, and K-pop idols. Using their specialty, the contestants will perform in front of 200 audience members which include eight panelists called "angel musicians." In order to survive and continue to the final round, they need to get at least 150 votes from the audience.

The producer noted that the show is different from previous audition shows, as it does not have a group of judges who evaluates the contestants' performance. Instead, it has eight artists ― singers Lee Seung-hwan, Yoon Jong-shin, Kang Seung-yoon of K-pop group Winner, Younha, Soyou, and Lee Won-seok, lyricist Kim Ea-na and dancer Noze ― to act as mentors, and Jun Hyun-moo as the host.

"This show, for the first time, will not have judges even in the preliminary rounds, which makes it different from other shows," he said. "This will show you a new type of audition show. Until now, previous audition shows had contestants who were already professional artists, most of the time. But this audition is about youngsters growing (into artists)."

Singer-songwriter Yoon, who previously has worked with the producer for "Heart Signal," said that he joined the show because he trusted the production team's eye for catching talent.

"As I've done two seasons with them, I had faith in their capability of creating a show and their eye for finding new talent. So when they said they're going to make an audition show, I was curious to see how they would paint it," he said.

K-pop star Kang, who also has experience competing in an audition show, said he wanted to provide the same support that he received from his mentors to the show's contestants.

"As a person who had gone through an audition show, I know how helpful the advice from mentors and artists can be. Those experiences still help me to this day," he said. "There are contestants with three different specialties in 'Stars Awakening' and I have all three of them, so I was drawn to this show, hoping that I could support the future shining stars."

Noze, who rose to stardom after competing in the dance survival show, "Street Woman Fighter," shared that this show will offer a message about the value of working toward a dream.

"I think this show teaches us the importance of the process over an outcome. Even though you might have dreams in other fields than this one, you will be able to get messages of encouragement," she said.

"Stars Awakening" airs on Channel A Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.

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