Antoine, 24, is passionate about K-pop. During a trip to South Korea, the young man had the opportunity to dance in one of the most famous studios in Seoul. An unforgettable experience which also allowed him to learn more about the training of future idols.
K-pop, which appeared in the early 1990s, became popular around the world towards the end of the 2000s. Today, some of the best-known groups come from this musical movement: BTS, Blackpink, EXO… accumulating billions of streams on streaming platforms.
The teams of “1:15 p.m. on Saturday” (X, #1:15 p.m.) followed Antoine, 24 years old and a fan of K-pop. In Paris, he joined a K-pop “dance cover” group, in which he reproduces the choreographies of his favorite groups. The young man made his dream come true by going to South Korea, to get closer to his idols.
“With a little talent, your career can start very early”
During this stay in Seoul, Antoine goes with a friend to a very famous dance studio, SL Studio, where future K-pop stars can be spotted. Very quickly, he realizes the talent and young age of the other dancers. “Currently the career of idols in Korea starts earlier and earlier, it can start as early as primary school“, explains the dance teacher. “With a little talent, your career can start very early. You first have to sing and dance very well, but that comes with practice.“, she continues.
Work and rigor seem to be the key words to one day claim a destiny similar to that of Lisa, V or Jungkook. “To be an idol, something extra has to happen on stage, a gift. Expression is very important. You are judged on your ability to express things“, confides Antoine’s teacher of the day. If this young K-pop enthusiast has been complimented on his dancing skills, he now knows that the road is long and hard to aspire to one day becoming an idol.
Excerpt from “Génération K-pop”, a report broadcast in “1:15 p.m. on Saturday” on September 30, 2023.
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