Mission K-Pop

Caty Szeto has a mission. She wants to be a K-Pop idol.

Caty’s always been into performing, especially dancing. But as an Asian American, Caty found it hard to see representation in the entertainment industry. That was, until she found K-Pop as a teenager. Since then, she’s dreamed of being one of those sleek and talented idols (think BTS, Girls’ Generation, EXO) in a genre that's had worldwide success. But she&rsq...

Welcome to the academy. Our host, journalist Haeryun Kang, follows Caty as she gets acquainted with K-Pop Art School, an incubator for aspiring K-Pop idols.

Early on, Caty hears warnings about the demands of the industry that has left a trail of burned-out trainees in its path. Staff at the school are also keen to remind the students about the level of competition in K-Pop. Very few people actually reach the heights of K-Pop stardom...

Caty’s psyched to have her first audition for a K-Pop entertainment agency.

But before she can even step foot into the audition room, she’s told she’s too old to try out. 

Caty’s 23 years old in an industry that prefers to cast people as teenagers. Haeryun investigates where K-Pop’s obsession with youth comes from by following the story of BoA who made her debut at 13 years old. Haeryun also looks a...

While K-Pop has been embraced all over the world, it’s still difficult for foreigners to find their place in the industry. Caty speaks Korean well, but struggles with communication at times. Haeryun wonders if this is getting in the way of her being cast by a K-Pop entertainment agency. Then again, there are very successful foreigners in the industry like Lisa in Blackpink. 

In order to determine Caty’s place as an ...

K-Pop idols are basically synonymous with good looks. Female K-Pop stars generally have fair skin, big eyes, small noses, egg-shaped heads and weigh less than 50 kgs or 110 lbs. Caty’s vocal coach says that if Caty wants to be a megastar, she needs to lose weight. This is no secret in K-Pop. This narrow idea of beauty shocks Haeryun. She looks at a 90s financial crash that led in part to South Korea becoming the “plasti...

Despite many try-outs, Caty isn’t passing auditions to become a trainee at a K-Pop entertainment agency. Haeryun doesn’t know exactly why. She’s never been allowed to go into an audition room to actually see how Caty performs. Finally, Haeryun receives permission to watch and record one of Caty’s auditions. She also scores an interview with someone who holds Caty’s fate in their hands: a casting direct...

If Caty were cast by an entertainment agency, she’d become a trainee. That is far from the glamorous lifestyle of a K-Pop superstar. Haeryun finds out the reality of traineeship by meeting two former trainees, including one who almost made it to K-Pop megastardom in the group BTS. Along the way, Haeryun reveals what motivates Caty to continue pursuing her dream despite the constant disappointment and rejection. 

Consultan...

Caty finishes her three months in Seoul and prepares to return home to LA. She faces one final hurdle as her academy surprises her with a last-minute evaluation. So far, Caty hasn’t passed any auditions to become a trainee at a K-Pop entertainment agency. Caty’s wondering if she should continue pursuing K-Pop stardom at all. Haeryun meets Caty in California to ruminate over what’s holding her back and what she sho...