Pioneer batch of Singapore teens chase K-pop dreams at local training academy SM Universe

SINGAPORE – The road to being a K-pop star is extremely challenging, and even after years of rigorous training, one may not even make it past an audition. 

Yet, it is not stopping some Singaporean teens from pursuing their K-pop dreams, one baby step at a time. 

Qti Tan, 17, and Cherise Sim, 13, were among the pioneer batch of 15 students aged 11 to 19 who underwent an intensive five-day K-pop intermediate training programme conducted by

K-pop training academy SM Universe (Singapore).

It was held at youth space *Scape in Orchard Road from June 16 to 20. 

The youth took dance, vocal, recording and modelling lessons from 10am to 5pm, and were put through the wringer like a real K-pop trainee.

SM Universe specialises in K-pop training programmes. It is a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, one of the “Big Four” K-pop agencies alongside Hybe, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. 

The *Scape campus opened its doors in June and is the only SM Universe training academy in South-east Asia. All the trainers involved in the Singapore curriculum are South Korean industry experts who are part of the teaching pool in the main SM Universe campus.

Qti, who taught herself K-pop choreography from YouTube videos, has always loved dancing and performing.

Joining the K-pop training programme by SM Universe (Singapore) – priced at $1,000 – was “a good chance to learn new things and get proper guidance from real instructors”, she tells The Straits Times.

Learning from industry experts

“I also want to experience what it is like to train in a professional environment,” adds Qti, who is a fan of Blackpink.

The fashion management and design student at Temasek Polytechnic says her introduction to the music genre was from watching the K-pop girl group’s How You Like That music video in 2020 when she was in primary school.

“I was immediately drawn to their powerful energy and style, and since then, I have been exploring K-pop music, performances and idols.” 

The training was “an eye-opening experience”, and though it was tiring and challenging, Qti says she enjoyed every minute of it. 

Students learnt to sing and dance to girl group Aespa’s hit single Spicy (2023), and recorded a video performance at the end of the week. Aespa, a quartet formed by SM Entertainment, made their debut in 2020.

Part of the syllabus includes a mock K-pop trainee audition, where students apply what they have learnt. They are then given feedback from their trainers and SM Universe’s faculty members, who are K-pop industry veterans, like in a real audition.

“Some critiques are painful to hear, but they push me to improve,” Qti says.

She auditioned for several K-pop companies – including YG, the label behind Blackpink – in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, she attended two auditions: with Cube Entertainment, which manages girl group I-dle; and Pledis Entertainment, the agency of boy band Seventeen.

After completing the intermediate programme, students can continue the curriculum for another week in the advanced training programme for the same price, which Cherise did. While Qti could not carry on due to school commitments, she plans to sign up when time permits. 

Juggling schoolwork and K-pop training

Cherise started jazz dance at four years old and switched to Latin dance at seven, and has participated in numerous regional dancesport competitions where she was placed.

Though the National Junior College Integrated Programme student discovered K-pop only in 2023, the fan of I-dle, Babymonster, IVE and Aespa has already decided that K-pop is the path for her.

Prior to her lessons at SM Universe (Singapore), Cherise attended several private vocal and dance classes in Seoul in October 2024 after finishing her PSLE.

She auditioned for The Black Label when the South Korean agency – which is behind popular artistes like Blackpink’s Rose and BigBang’s Taeyang – held the Singapore leg of its global tryouts in May. 

Cherise recalls the experience as nerve-racking but valuable, and says it further spurred her interest in K-pop.

“Over the two weeks, I gained a clearer understanding of how the K-pop industry works behind the scenes and what idols go through on a day-to-day basis,” she says.

The Secondary 1 student admits juggling schoolwork, her dance co-curricular activity and K-pop training can be tiring, but says it is still manageable.

She plans to continue her training, be it after school hours or during the school holidays, depending on the programme schedules at SM Universe (Singapore). If there is an opportunity, she also hopes to take up K-pop classes in Seoul.

She is also brushing up on her Korean to understand and communicate better during training and auditions. “I know some basic words and phrases. I’m not fluent, but I can read Hangul (the Korean alphabet).”

Cherise’s mother Kelly Ong, an entrepreneur in her 30s, encourages her only child to pursue her ambitions. 

“People have questioned us on why we indulge in her K-pop dream, as this is an unconventional path for Singaporeans,” says Ms Ong. 

“But we believe in Cherise and we will do everything we can to help her.”

Adds the doting mum: “She has made sacrifices. We know it is not easy on her, but she is incredibly disciplined and understands the importance of striking a balance between her passion and academics.”

The family has also considered letting Cherise relocate to Seoul to undergo full-time K-pop training if the opportunity arises. 

Though Ms Ong acknowledges that the chances of debuting are slim, she believes Cherise “has a real shot through hard work, persistence and a bit of luck”. 

Training in the K-pop capital

A Singaporean teenager who has taken one step closer to her dreams is Cassa Tan.

The 15-year-old has been training at SM Universe in Seoul since February, after it scouted her in January based on her dance videos on social media. 

Noting her drive and high potential for growth, SM Universe (Singapore) offered Cassa a six-month scholarship programme to train at the main academy. The scholarship covers training academy fees and partial support for her living expenses in Seoul.

As a pre-trainee – one who has yet to be officially accepted by SM Entertainment – Cassa is expected to keep up with the demanding K-pop training as well as her studies at a South Korean performing arts high school.

“On weekdays, I attend school until the afternoon, followed by vocal and dance training, practice sessions and Korean lessons,” she says.

Her weekends are equally packed, with more vocal and dance classes, and group practice sessions that stretch from noon to night. 

But the former Anderson Secondary School student has no regrets moving to the K-pop capital on her own.

“I miss my family and friends, but being in Seoul allows me to immerse myself in the local culture and improve my Korean through daily interactions,” says Cassa.

“I’m much closer to my dreams, but there is still a lot of room to grow. I’m pushing myself to improve each day.”

Commitment and perseverance

Mr Jonathan Ang, director of SM Universe (Singapore), says the academy – which has enrolled 200 students so far – is “encouraged by the passion, discipline and drive shown by the Singaporean youth in our classes”.

His advice to those who are serious about pursuing a K-pop career is to consistently refine their technical skills through specialised training, and to take advantage of “Singapore’s multilingualism to give them an edge in today’s increasingly globalised K-pop industry”. 

K-pop agencies look for star potential, individuals who show promise to grow artistically and carry themselves with authenticity and confidence, says Mr Ang.

He adds that as the K-pop industry is highly competitive, versatility has become key. It is no longer sufficient to specialise in one area, such as dance or vocals.

“SM Universe (Singapore) is committed to creating tangible pathways for our students, connecting high-potential talent with the right industry opportunities, and equipping them with the skills and attitude needed to thrive in the entertainment industry,” says Mr Ang.

The academy is designing its flagship 21-week training programme, which is likely to commence in early 2026. It will culminate in a one-week enrichment trip to the SM Universe campus in Seoul, where top students have the opportunity to audition with South Korean entertainment agencies.

Says Mr Ang: “The journey towards becoming a K-pop idol requires commitment and perseverance, and a strong foundation must first be built.”

Cherise says: “I know I still have a long way to go, but my goal is to become the best version of myself.”

Qti adds: “Being consistent and hardworking is super important – you can’t just rely on talent. Having an understanding of the K-pop industry is also helpful.

“If I can’t become an idol, I will pursue a behind-the-scenes role in the K-pop world, like being a stylist for the idols.”