YG Entertainment (hereinafter YG) will hold a large-scale audition to discover the next-generation global artists to follow the groups Blackpink, TREASURE, and BABYMONSTER. In particular, this audition appears to be a move to desperately secure a talent pool that will be responsible for YG's future, with chief producer Yang Hyun-suk taking the lead in judging.
YG announced on its official blog on the 5th that it will hold the '2026 YG SPECIAL AUDITION : GO! DEBUT'. The biggest feature of this audition is that chief producer Yang Hyun-suk will participate directly from the first screening stage, the document review.
YG said, "As you can tell from the title 'SPECIAL AUDITION', there is a major distinction in this audition. Unlike before, chief producer Yang Hyun-suk will personally step forward with a strong will to discover major new talent."
This is interpreted as a strong declaration of intent to strengthen YG's unique identity that produced global top artists such as Big Bang and Blackpink, and to personally select raw talent.
The audition subtitle 'GO! DEBUT' reflects YG's aggressive strategy to discover talent that can be immediately deployed to the global K-pop market, beyond merely selecting trainees.
Having produced numerous world-class artists over the years, YG recently strengthened its training system. Through this, it is accelerating the launch of next-generation groups by significantly shortening the time it takes trainees to debut. In fact, YG posted a video on its official blog about the debut histories of TREASURE and BABYMONSTER, emphasizing the process of becoming completed artists through a systematic system, raising participants' expectations.
Eligibility for this special audition is open to anyone born from 2007 through 2015, regardless of gender or nationality.
YG has led the K-pop wave by producing many artists who perform not only in Korea but around the world. Under the direct command of chief producer Yang Hyun-suk, music fans worldwide are focused on what new global star this 'special audition' will produce and how it will open a new chapter for YG.
[Photo] YG Entertainment
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