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| The teaser for SBS's upcoming audition show, "Universe Ticket" / Courtesy of SBS |
By Dong Sun-hwa
A host of talent search shows to create new K-pop acts will soon hit the air.
Local broadcaster SBS will join forces with K-pop management company F&F Entertainment to launch a new audition program titled, "Universe Ticket." They will pick eight members to join a new girl group, which will be represented by F&F for two and a half years.
The girls from 128 countries including New Zealand, Germany, Mexico and India applied for the show, according to SBS. So far, the broadcaster has unveiled the faces of 82 contestants, including Eunchae (Kwon Chae-won) of now-defunct K-pop girl group DIA and trot singer Lim Seo-won.
"We were surprised to see so many applicants," said Lee Hwan-jin, the producer of Universe Ticket. "We could again realize K-pop's global clout. We believe our program will help K-pop gain a foothold to take a further leap."
"Universe Ticket" is scheduled to premiere in November.
Another audition program, "Fan Pick" is also set to be aired in the second half of this year. It recently shared a YouTube video for recruiting fans who will assume the role of the "players" ― or the judges of the program who will have the power to single out the members of a new K-pop group.
Leeteuk, the leader of K-pop act Super Junior, will appear as the MC for the show.
"Leeteuk has demonstrated himself as a talented host on diverse variety shows," Fan Pick commented. "We expect that he will successfully lead our upcoming show as well."
In 2024, cable channel Mnet will debut a new girl group through "I-LAND 2" ― the second season of "I-LAND" that gave birth to boy band ENHYPEN in 2020.
It plans to accept applicants until Aug. 6. Girls born before Jan. 1, 2011, are eligible to apply regardless of their nationality.
Internationally acclaimed music producer Teddy Park, who is behind the success of numerous hits by girl group BLACKPINK, will be featured in the upcoming program as the "master producer."
"We will make a fresh attempt to break the mold and build a new landscape for K-pop," Mnet said in a statement.
The new girl group formed on "I-LAND 2" will be managed by WAKEONE Entertainment, home to boy group ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) that was formed on Mnet's other talent search show, "Boys Planet."
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