Weekly K:KEY vol.8

Weekly K:KEY AUGUST / 4th week / 2025

🗝️Audition this week

HYBE — Multi-Label Integrated Global Audition
Schedule: Online submissions
July 14 – September 7, 2025 (KST) — active this week
Venue: Round 1 online; later, in-person rounds in Japan
(details emailed to successful applicants)
Eligibility: Born 2007 or later; all genders and nationalities
Application Type / Category: Vocal, Rap, Dance, or Creative (songwriting/producing, etc.)
How to Apply: Submit one application through the official HYBE audition portal, including three photos (front/side/full-body) and one performance video
Notes: No duplicate submissions; heavily filtered/edited media may lead to disqualification; only selected applicants will receive follow-up information

JYP Entertainment — JYP2CK: Next Girl Group Audition
Schedule: July 14 – August 24, 2025
Venue: Online submission
Eligibility: Females born 2007–2015
Application Type / Category: Dance / Vocal / Star Quality
How to Apply: Submit online through the official JYP audition website (https://audition.jype.com/JYP2CK)
Notes: Finalists may become JYP trainees; only successful applicants will be contacted; videos/photos must be recorded in a well-lit setting with no heavy editing

TOP MEDIA — 2025 Boys Global Online Audition
Schedule: July 1 – August 31, 2025
Venue: Online (via KakaoTalk/Instagram DM/email)
Eligibility: Males born 2007–2012
Application Type / Category: Vocal, Rap, Dance, Acting, Visual — category is flexible
How to Apply: Scan the poster’s QR code or contact via KakaoTalk/Instagram; submissions also accepted by email (audition@itopgroup.com)
Notes: Global audition; questions may be addressed to the KakaoTalk channel

NEWTYPE Entertainment — 2025 2nd Music Publishing Audition
Schedule: August 1 – August 28, 2025
Venue: Online submission; September 2nd round will be a collaboration audition
Eligibility: Producers, Songwriters, Track Makers, Topliners
Application Type / Category: Producer & Songwriter (submit one song for a boy group and one for a girl group)
How to Apply: Through NEWTYPE’s official website
Notes: Specialized for global music publishing; full demo required (lyrics, composition, arrangement, guide vocals); results announced September 8 to selected applicants

SM Entertainment — Online Audition
Schedule: Always open
How to Apply:

https://audition.smtown.com

via email/online
Eligibility: No age, gender or nationality restrictions
Application Type / Category: Vocal, Dance, Acting, Visual

YG Entertainment — Online Audition
Schedule: Always open (apply once per month)
Eligibility: Born 1923–2023; all genders/nationalities
Application Type / Category: Vocal, Rap, Dance

WAKEONE Entertainment — Online Audition
Schedule: Always open
Eligibility: No restrictions; must be able to travel abroad
Application Type / Category: Vocal, Dance, Rap, Acting (up to 2 categories)
How to Apply: Email to audition@wake-one.com

🗝️K-POP Chart Breifing

📍K-POP Chart - Music Bank

(2025.07.28~2025.08.03)

1. THE BOYZ - Stylish

2. TXT - Beautiful Strangers

3. YENA - being a Good Girl Hurts

4. BLACKPINK - JUMP

5. ALLDAY PROJECT - FAMOUS

📍K-POP Chart - Circle Chart

(2025.08.03~2025.08.09)

1. HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast - Golden

2. KPop Demon Hunters Cast, 대니 정, Saja Boys, Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee - Soda Pop

3. KPop Demon Hunters Cast, 대니 정, Saja Boys, Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee - Your Idol

4. BLACK PINK - JUMP

5. HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast - How It’s Done

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🗝️IDOL SCAN

📍Comeback Schedule

JOY (Red Velvet)

Comeback Date & Time: August 18, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: From JOY, with Love (1st Mini Album)
Highlights: Joy’s first official solo mini album after 4 years. Title track "Love Splash!" showcases her unique color. Includes self-written song “Get Up And Dance.”

Vince (feat. G-DRAGON)

Comeback Date & Time: August 18, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: CHA CHA CHA (Digital Single)
Highlights: Collaboration between G-DRAGON and Vince from THEBLACKLABEL. Hip-hop R&B with a Latin cha-cha rhythm.

CORTIS

Comeback Date & Time: August 18, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: What You Want (Pre-debut Digital Single)
Highlights: Pre-debut release ahead of first official album in September. New global boy group.

SECRET NUMBER

Comeback Date & Time: August 19, 2025, 12:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: Don't Touch (8th Single)
Highlights: First release in 2 years. First comeback after lineup changes. Upbeat pop sound.

Kep1er

Comeback Date & Time: August 19, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: BUBBLE GUM (7th Mini Album)
Highlights: First comeback with only 6 members (Seo Young-eun on hiatus). Colorful bubblegum pop track.

Moon Byul (MAMAMOO)

Comeback Date & Time: August 20, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: laundri (4th Mini Album)
Highlights: Emotional “laundry” concept, includes previous single “ICY BBY.” Deep introspective lyrics.

Hi-Fi Unicorn

Comeback Date & Time: August 20, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: Teenage Blue (2nd Single)
Highlights: Fresh summer sound. Rising rookie act’s second single.

BOYNEXTDOOR (JP)

Comeback Date & Time: August 20, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: BOYLIFE (Japan 2nd Single)
Highlights: Group’s second Japanese single release.

8TURN

Comeback Date & Time: August 21, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: Electric Heart: 찬란하게 빛날 (2nd Single Album)
Highlights: Comeback after a world tour. Energetic pop title.

TEEN TOP

Comeback Date & Time: August 21, 2025, 6:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: Just 15, Just Teen Top (15th Anniversary Album)
Highlights: Celebrating 15th anniversary; first comeback in over 2 years.

Stray Kids

Comeback Date & Time: August 22, 2025, 1:00 PM KST
Album / Single Title: KARMA (4th Full Album)
Highlights: First full-length album in 2+ years. Futuristic "2081" concept. High global anticipation.

JINNY (former SECRET NUMBER)

Comeback Date & Time: August 23, 2025 (time TBA)
Album / Single Title: Everglow (Pre-debut Single)
Highlights: First release since leaving group; anticipation among fans.

JUST B

Comeback Date & Time: August 24, 2025 (time TBA)
Album / Single Title: Too Late (Digital Single)
Highlights: Digital single release; comeback with fresh sound.

🗝️ The Making of a Successful Trainee Through the Eyes of K-pop Trainers

📍The First 10 Seconds: Pass/Fail Signals

Among thousands of applicants, the first 10 seconds decide who advances. Here are the pass and fail signals trainers actually watch for—kept concise and practical.

Green Flags — Pass Signals

• Use of stillness: Take 1–2 seconds before the music starts to steady your breath and lock your gaze. Don’t rush the entry.

• Hitting the first beat: The first line (or first step) lands squarely on the beat, with clear contrast between strong and weak accents.

• Axis & lines: A stable upper-body axis; shoulders and hips don’t wobble. In a full-body frame, feet are never cropped out.

• Diction & clarity: Crisp consonants and consistent vowel length. Message delivery takes priority over high notes.

• Planned expression & eyeline: Distinct expressions for intro–highlight–outro. Don’t just “stare” at the lens—use the camera.

• Reset behavior: If you slip, stop → realign posture → resume quickly and cleanly. No excuses, no nervous laughter.

Red Flags — Deduction/Fail Signals

• Show-off opening: Unstable belting or excessive ad-libs that immediately break pitch and breath.

• Noisy frame: Shaky handheld, heavy on-screen text/subtitles, or background noise that hides the evaluation points.

• Stomping steps: Loud steps/jumps; knees collapsing inward on landing—reads as wasted energy.

• Gesture overuse: Empty hand waves, hair flips, exaggerated winks that interrupt tempo.

• Overacting face: Overloaded expressions before the highlight flatten the emotional arc.

• Breath neglect: Holding your breath through a section; the back half inevitably collapses

🗝️ The Road to K-pop:
What Parents Need to Know First

📍 Supporting Health and Wellness at Home

Life as a K-pop trainee is an intense balance of school and training. The first things to be tested are physical stamina and mental health. Here are practical ways parents can provide support:

• Balanced meals and nutrition
  With heavy calorie consumption, trainees need proper protein, carbohydrates, and hydration. At home, focus on balanced meals rather than extreme dieting.

• Sleep and recovery
  Training plus academics often leads to sleep deprivation. Parents can help by setting limits on late-night device use and creating a quiet environment before bedtime.

• Emotional support and counseling access
  Repeated auditions and rejections can strain mental health. Regular emotional check-ins at home, and professional counseling when needed, provide essential stability.

• Maintaining routines
  Support a daily rhythm that balances practice, academics, and rest. Use weekends or holidays for intentional downtime and family activities.

Parents are not meant to be “coaches” at home. The family’s role is to act as the base camp for recovery—a safe place where a trainee can breathe.

📍 Mapping the Audition Journey Safely

Auditions are the gateway to trainee life and will be repeated many times. For parents, the key responsibility is ensuring that opportunities are legitimate and safe.

• Structure of official auditions
  Major agencies host open auditions quarterly or annually, often accepting global applications. Mid-sized agencies and academies may run ongoing submissions. Formats include in-person, video, and online applications.

• Verification
  Always apply through the official website or verified SNS channels. Be cautious of “unofficial scouting offers” via email or DM, especially when deposits or registration fees are requested.

• Common scams
  Impersonators of well-known agency staff, or fake audition notices demanding fees, are frequent. Parents should cross-check all opportunities through official channels.

• Managing applications and videos
  Application videos contain personal information. Do not post them publicly; only use official submission portals.

Safe auditioning is not just about increasing chances of success—it is the foundation of protecting your child. With parental guidance, trainees can focus on their craft without unnecessary risks.

Final Thoughts

Parents don’t need to become “trainees by proxy.” But when it comes to health management and safe audition practices, the family’s role is irreplaceable. Home should be a place of rest, and parents the most trusted managers. With this foundation, trainees can pursue their dreams with greater stability and resilience.