Virtual K-Pop Auditions Held by GALAXY CORPORATION Make Their Way to Los Angeles

On September 8th many hopefuls took their chance at debuting as part of GALAXY CORPORATION’s newest digital idol group. Home to K-Pop icon G-DRAGON, GALAXY CORPORATION has also produced Netflix’s hit Physical 100 and most recently brought on K-Pop singer and actor Kim Jong-kook. GALAXY CORPORATION’s first ever global auditions, '2025 GLOBAL VIRTUAL ARTIST AUDITION,' sought candidates of all ages, genders and nationalities, bringing in talent from around the world. Around 100 hopefuls were present at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre, some flying in from Europe and Korea for the chance to audition for the group. The talent pool consisted of rappers, dancers and singers, along with several performers bringing their own instruments. 

Photo Virath Pum

The catch? The candidates would not ever be seen- well, so to speak. Using motion capture technology, those auditioning were presented as one of two pre-set avatars in front of a panel of three judges. To maintain anonymity throughout the process each participant was held away from the judges and escorted backstage, shielded by umbrellas, as they awaited their chance to perform. The judges were made up of GK (Gyuhyuk Song), GALAXY’s Senior Lead of IP MUSIC and two additional GALAXY CORPORATION members. With over ten years experience at SM Entertainment, GK has worked in management and project management for many leading artists, including TVXQ!, EXO, Red Velvet and NCT.

Photo Virath Pum

Appearing fully as virtual avatars, those selected to form the group will follow the rigorous training of a K-Pop idol, receiving training including vocal, rap and dance with the addition of motion capture, digital stage presence and fan interaction through immersive media. With the company opening auditions without boundaries we are hopeful that the inclusivity will extend within the final avatar forms, allowing for the artists of all ages, nationalities, sizes and genders to not only be represented behind the screen but on it. 

However, virtual groups are not an entirely new concept - with groups like the early 2000’s genre blurring Gorillaz, K-Pop’s PLAVE and Japanese soloist Ado, who blends live performance with virtual concepts, seeing much success. With the rapid expansion of AI and its potential almost limitless for delivering content, will virtual groups become more prominent in the industry? AI integration can be a controversial topic across all scopes, creative spaces being no exception. And even with so much of today’s world and entertainment being consumed through a digital space there is still a strong desire for human connection. With the hopes of connecting to audiences and providing immersive media within the new idol group, we’re curious where the boundary between reality and technology will meet among a global audience. 

Photo Virath Pum

GALAXY CORPORATION plans to extend auditions throughout other major cities following their time in Los Angeles.

GALAXY CORPORATION

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