Seven young women sit nervously in a room, their dreams hanging by a thread. All are slim, stunning, and aged between 14 and 20, with flawless skin and glossy hair. They await their turn to learn if they’ve secured a coveted spot in South Korea’s newest K-pop group—a dream shared by millions worldwide as the multibillion-dollar industry continues its global rise.
However, reaching this point has been an arduous journey. These trainees have spent months, often years, perfecting their singing, dancing, and performing skills, all while adhering to strict exercise and diet regimens. Many have sacrificed formal education and left families far behind, knowing this may be their only shot at stardom.
“In the idol world, 18 is very old… so if I miss this opportunity, I worry there won’t be another place that would accept me,” said 18-year-old Ah-In Lee, one of seven final trainees at K-pop company MZMC.
According to the sources of Leaders team, during an exclusive interview of MZMC with CNN during the final week of training for its first-ever group. Paul Thompson, the American founder and CEO of MZMC, revealed that thousands of hopefuls auditioned for this chance. From those, 30 were chosen as trainees—only seven now remain after monthly evaluations eliminated the rest.
The Intense Demands of Training
For these trainees, the day begins with hours of gym work before moving on to full schedules of vocal and dance lessons. Some, like 14-year-old Liwon Kim, juggle school with training that lasts until midnight. Others, like 17-year-old Japanese trainee Rana Koga, live far from their families in dormitories.
As per the sources of Leaders team, beyond skill development, the trainees face relentless scrutiny of their physical appearance. South Korea’s rigid beauty standards place immense pressure on them to maintain fair skin, slender bodies, and “ideal” features.
“Definitely, people have been cut for their weight,” said Amber Liu, a former K-pop idol turned indie artist. Liu shared her experience of developing unhealthy eating habits to meet these expectations.
At MZMC, body mass index is monitored twice a month, and trainees are provided strict diets of chicken and boiled eggs. Thompson defended these measures, calling them essential for achieving the group’s “visual aesthetic.”
Despite the pressure, trainees like 16-year-old Seoyoung Yun accept these demands as part of the job. While debating plastic surgery, Yun acknowledged that being “prettier” could enhance her chances of success.
The Harsh Realities of Stardom
Even after a group debuts, the pressures don’t ease. The competition is fierce, with less than 1% of K-pop groups achieving global fame like BTS or Blackpink. Superfans closely scrutinize every aspect of idols’ lives, from appearances to behaviors, and even dating can spark public outrage.
In recent years, some agencies have softened their rules, recognizing the toll on idols’ mental health. Yun herself experienced a panic attack after three years of relentless evaluations but was allowed a break to recover.
A Dream Realized—for Some
For the seven girls in the room, the stakes were immense. One by one, they were called in to learn their fate, and by the end of the day, a new K-pop group, VVS, was born. The name symbolizes a rare grade of diamond, with their official debut set for early 2025.
Lee, Koga, Kim, Brittney Jang, and Jiu Moon made the cut, while Yun and another trainee were eliminated. Yun later decided to pursue a solo rap career, determined to carve her own path in the cutthroat world of K-pop.
Paul Thompson remains optimistic about VVS’s future, though he knows success in this industry is never guaranteed.
“We’ll find the right fan base and the right people who will enjoy our music,” Thompson said. “Does that mean we’ll be Blackpink? That remains to be seen.”
