Mnet 'Street World Fighter: Director's War' (hereinafter 'SDPF') has proven its hot topicality even before its first broadcast. With just the pre-release video, not only choreographers from the existing Street series but also newly joined world-class choreographers have had their dazzling careers reexamined, raising expectations.
The Mnet 'Street World Fighter: Director's War,' which premieres at 10 p.m. on the 18th, depicts the fierce battle of works staged by choreographers who dream of being performance directors who plan and direct stages to get their names on the "director credits."
Since the pre-release video was unveiled on the 5th, the distinctive careers of new-face choreographers such as Renan, Babyju, Jeong Min-jun, Casper, and Hash, along with choreographers from the existing Street series such as Nine, Bada, Back Kooyoung, Shimizu, and In-gyu, have been heating up online. In response, the five choreographers directly revealed their representative stages and behind-the-scenes stories, adding to the anticipation.
Casper, who oversaw Taemin's Coachella stage as the first Korean male soloist to do so, said the 2026 Taemin Coachella stage, for which he was the first domestic choreographer to take overall direction, is the most memorable and cited it as his most meaningful work. Renan, who helped create aespa's signature performances, said "Armageddon" and the "Whiplash" stage presented at the 2024 MAMA Awards were works that best matched the style I pursue, and added that having a title-track choreography fully adopted for a full album remains a great source of pride.
Babyju, who cited the 'Sour Candy' stage, her first collaboration with Blackpink, as a representative work, recalled that watching the members complete the choreography and directing she conceived together gave her great confidence as a choreographer.
Hash, who has left a strong impression with mega performances, said the most thrilling moments are not a specific work but the explosive audience reactions themselves. He said it is most exhilarating when the intended 'wow points' elicit an exactly timed reaction on every stage, and that it is the moment when he is certain the stage he intended was conveyed as planned.
Jeong Min-jun selected the 'Caravan' stage, which achieved a second consecutive win by becoming the defending champion of the 2026 season of the global dance competition 'VIBE Competition,' as his life performance.
They also candidly revealed artists they want to work with and their dream stages. Renan said he has long dreamed of directing stages for TVXQ! seniors, as well as choreographing with Jennie, whose distinctive color is clear, and ALLDAY PROJECT. Hash said he wants to vividly bring out KATSEYE's unique, distinctive, energetic color, and Jeong Min-jun expressed his aspiration to work with Justin Bieber, a source of inspiration and someone who moves his heart.
Challenges toward the global stage continued. Casper named the Super Bowl halftime show as a global stage he would like to try someday. He said he wants to contribute even a small part to the Super Bowl halftime show, which is a world-class stage, regardless of the artist, and expressed his ambition for a bigger stage as a performance director.
Babyju's goal is the music festival Coachella, which draws global attention. She said she thinks it is a stage where one performance can cross borders and reach more people, and that someday she wants to stand on Coachella with an artist she directed and show the performance she pursues.
The production team said, "Please look forward to the fierce 'war of works' that the 10 choreographers, who have already established global standing, will present as the top stage directors beyond being players, and what new and shocking aesthetics they will propose as they put their names on the line."
[Photo] Provided by Mnet
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