Introduction
The K-pop industry has experienced tremendous global growth over the past decades, prompting leading entertainment agencies to implement diverse strategies to attract international talent. Among these, HYBE and JYP Entertainment have focused particularly on overseas audition programs to form multinational idol groups.
HYBE’s Global Audition Programs
HYBE has actively launched global girl group audition projects, such as “The Debut: Dream Academy,” to discover talent from around the world. This program was promoted across various social media platforms including YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook, allowing fans worldwide to engage with the audition process in real time.
JYP Entertainment’s Global Audition Strategy
JYP Entertainment has targeted the North American market through its “America2Korea (A2K)” audition project, holding auditions across the United States and Canada. Selected contestants were brought to South Korea to receive K-pop-style training, with the final goal of launching a girl group optimized for the North American audience.
Formation of Multinational Idol Groups
Through these global audition programs, both HYBE and JYP have debuted idol groups composed of members from diverse national and cultural backgrounds. This approach not only enhances the relatability of groups among international fans but also strengthens their competitive presence in global music markets.
Conclusion
The global talent recruitment strategies of HYBE and JYP are central to the internationalization of K-pop. By discovering talent from various regions and training them under the K-pop system, these agencies have successfully formed multinational idol groups. These strategies are expected to further expand the global influence of K-pop and serve as models for other agencies seeking international success.
📚 References
Chosun Biz. (2024, July 18). JYP expands into South America after North America: “Developing local girl groups with K-pop system.” https://biz.chosun.com/industry/business-venture/2024/07/18/ON3A6A2IHZGUTHSJSM624G32U4/
Maeil Business News. (2023, July 21). JYP’s global audition A2K attracts high views with emerging talents. https://www.mk.co.kr/news/musics/10790617
OhmyNews. (2023, July 15). Creating a K-pop group with North American locals—Will Park Jin-young’s challenge succeed? https://star.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/OhmyStar/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002945030
Seoul Economic Daily. (2024, July 18). JYP enters Latin American market with local subsidiary and “L2K” audition program. https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/2DBSEUCANP
Wikipedia. (2023, September 22). A2K (TV program). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A2K_(TV_program)
Yonhap News. (2023, August 28). HYBE global girl group auditions now available on YouTube, TikTok, and X. https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20230828125100005
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