‘Asian K-Pop Stars’ As A Platform For Uniting New Talents Across Asia

 

K-pop is a term used to express a form of popular culture from South Korea that describes a cultural phenomenon and not just a specific music genre.

In addition, several K-pop groups, such as BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, TWICE, and others, have achieved extraordinary achievements, such as breaking records, winning awards, and collaborating with international artists. K-pop has become a worldwide phenomenon due to its high-quality music and dance, as well as the visual style and attractive personality of its artists.

AlongMurni (AM) was informed that Pertubuhan Generasi Digital Malaysia (PGDM) has launched an exciting new TV reality program in Malaysia—Asian K-pop Stars (AKS). This initiative is carried out in collaboration with PGDM's strategic partner, the World K-Pop Center (WKC), which is headquartered in Namsan, Seoul, South Korea.

‘ASIAN K-POP STARS’ AS A PLATFORM FOR UNITING NEW TALENTS ACROSS ASIA

DATIN SERI DR. HARNIE MOHAMED - CHAIRMAN (PGDM)

As a non-governmental organization (NGO), PGDM holds the exclusive rights to AKS across Asia, with a five-season plan starting this year. AKS is envisioned as a unifying platform that brings together talents from diverse cultural backgrounds across Asia. Beyond discovering new talent, the program aims to promote inclusivity in the global entertainment industry, nurture strong character and cultural tolerance, and provide participants with exclusive opportunities to grow in the international entertainment scene.

PARTICIPATION ACROSS ASIA

The first season of AKS is open to female talents aged 18 to 30 from ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. However, PGDM also welcomes participation from other Asian nations.

The competition will begin with an open talent search, where applicants must submit a video of their K-pop singing and dancing performances. A registration fee of USD 18 applies per video submission, but an early bird registration fee of USD 10 is available for those who sign up before April.

SELECTION AND BOOTCAMP TRAINING

Participants will go through an initial screening, where 500 of the best contestants will be shortlisted for in-person auditions in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Bangkok. The judging panel will consist of celebrities from South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

From there, only 30 contestants will be selected for the AKS bootcamp, held in Kuala Lumpur over five weeks. Contestants will stay together in an exclusive talent village, the location of which will be revealed during the official AKS launch in April.

DATIN SERI DR. HARNIE MOHAMED - CHAIRMAN (PGDM)

LIVE CONCERTS AND GRAND FINALE

Contestants will also perform in weekly live concerts, broadcast on TV2. For record, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is the official broadcaster of Asian K-pop Stars Season 1.

Unlike traditional competitions, there will be no eliminations throughout the weekly concerts. However, during the grand finale in the fifth week, the top 20 contestants will be awarded prizes worth up to USD 20,000.

A GATEWAY TO K-POP STARDOM

The top 20 finalists will be flown to South Korea in January 2026, where they will undergo an intensive training program at the World K-Pop Centre (WKC) for six to 14 months—fully sponsored by PGDM. These finalists will also sign recording contracts with WKC, with PGDM serving as their official management agency for their professional careers after the competition.

MORE INFORMATION

Asian K-pop Stars Website: asiankpopstars.com

Early Bird Registration: asiankpopstars.com/early

PGDM Website: pgdm.my