Perhaps K-pop idols singing well is not enough for some people to overlook the fact that he/she cannot understand 
them, or maybe can’t stand, as some have put it the quote, “cheesy pop style of music” (granted Kpop isn’t the typical style of pop it’s much closer to hip-hop, but the fandoms will forgive) every person has their own musical preferences. However, one thing that cannot be said about these Kpop groups is that they are not hard-working.
Unlike artist from the U.S or western Europe, who can go into recording studios to audition, be discovered on social media or win the hearts of a nation on national television, the process of getting into the music industry in South Korea is much different and arguably more difficult. The Korean entertainment industry requires near perfection and only the most talented and most attractive people will succeed in the industry. There is a lot of information to cover, so in this post let’s just cover the leading companies in South Korea and the first step to becoming a Kpop idol.
The first step in becoming a Kpop idol is to join a company and become a trainee. Companies are the equivalent of record labels or entertainment companies, but it is important to mention that in South Korea the most successful companies will never just be recording labels; they will be talent agencies, publishing houses, fashion companies, film production companies, and any number of other things. In South Korea, there are five major companies that a person trying to become an idol, actor/actress, model or anything in the entertainment world will want to join.
- SM Entertainment
- YG Entertainment
- JYP Entertainment
- FNC Entertainment
- Starship Entertainment
Link to more about each company
An idol-hopeful can join a company usually one of three ways,
- Auditions (talent). companies will hold auditions every year (sometimes maybe more than once) all over the world because the larger companies will have offices set up in China, Thailand, America, the Philippines, and all major countries that CEO’s think there could be talent. Thus several people from all around Asia show up and have to compete with talent from across the globe if there isn’t something that stands out about a person auditioning the chances of passing auditions is basically a zero. An audition is the most probable chance a person has but even then it’s slim to none.
- Street Casting (looks). This system is a little unfair because it doesn’t rely on a person’s talent. In order to get street casted, a person has to be beyond good-looking (have the star look) because only the most beautiful/handsome get chosen. This is also how a lot of trainees and Idols from countries outside of Korea (like America, China, Thailand, and even Canada) are selected. After being chosen for his/her looks, the company will have a person audition to see if they possess any real talent. As crazy as it sounds the entertainment companies in south Korea still street cast, and they can get away with it because there is a position in every Kpop group called the “visual” whose job to draw and bring in attention with their good looks.
Winning a Sponsored Contest (talent/luck). Sometimes companies will sponsor or put on their own singing contest and the prize might be a contract with the sponsoring company. This one is probably not recommended because idols who get signed this way usually aren’t treated the best. In 2008, EXO’s Xiumin (Kim Minseok) won 2nd place on SM’s Everysing Contest and won a contract with SM entertainment, but it’s been said in a video, that has since been taken down that, that he receives fewer lines in each song, placed in the back for choreography (even though he has been praised for picking up the dances quickly), and less screen time in music videos than any other member (It can be seen by just watching a few of EXO’s music videos).
Riding the Korean wave 