K-Pop’s Big Three Accelerate Global Star Hunt... YG, SM, and HYBE Launch New Talent Scouting Strategies

Following the success of BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids, major entertainment companies have stepped up efforts to discover the next generation of K-pop global stars. YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and HYBE are each implementing unique talent scouting strategies, intensifying competition to find future artists.

YG Entertainment held a “special audition” led by chief producer Yang Hyun-suk to find new artists who can succeed BIGBANG and BLACKPINK. Yang Hyun-suk plans to personally review every audition participant, from the initial paperwork stage onward, to select candidates. The goal is to identify the next star capable of capturing the world using the discerning eye of the leader who has already discovered global superstars like G-Dragon and Jennie.

SM Entertainment officially announced the debut of a new boy group in 2026. Ahead of determining the debut lineup, the company released an entertainment program that introduces the trainee team “SMTR25” to the public for the first time. SMTR25 consists of 15 multinational male trainees, including those whose faces have already appeared in SM’s own content or concerts, as well as unannounced trainees. The program is structured as a reality show set in a fictional school where participants experience culture from the 1990s to the 2010s. Although it is not directly linked to debut, it is expected to serve as a benchmark for measuring each trainee’s popularity.

HYBE is preparing to launch a sister group to the global girl group KATSEYE, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in the New Artist category. Three members from KATSEYE’s audition program, “Dream Academy,” have already been confirmed as part of the group, and a second Korean-American joint audition to find the final member will take place on February 24. With 14,000 applicants competing for just one spot, intense rivalry is expected in the quest for the next generation of K-pop global stars.

As the K-pop industry enjoys worldwide popularity, competition among the Big Three to discover future artists who can strengthen their presence in global markets is expected to intensify further.