NCT Universe: Lastart

The show is on a whole other scale.

(SM Entertainment has never produced its own competition show with trainees.)

This is the first one.

(SM Entertainment will reveal the entire process of making a debut.)

It's decided that two of the members will make a debut.

(Members whose debuts are already confirmed)

Only 4 out of the 10 trainees can make a debut.

I had no idea that they would be here.

- Gosh. - Hello.

I think you must do your best. No excuses.

Just trust the members and go with it.

You must give it your all.

I hope you crush it.

You need to break out of the box.

Corner yourselves to the extreme.

I'll be really nervous once I go up the stage.

- I'm in trouble. - I'm in trouble.

(The trainees challenge themselves to make a debut.)

I need to perform soon.

I can feel my muscles tensing up.

Gosh, I'm in trouble.

I'm nervous.

(The trainees will perform on stage for the first time in their lives.)

Let's show them.

(Their performances will begin in earnest.)

With my perfect skills.

I won't lose to anyone.

I want to show them everything I have.

To make sure I make a debut...

I will do my best.

Let's go!

- What's this? - This studio set is crazy.

- Isn't this place for a music video? - My gosh.

They spent a lot of money on this.

The show is on a whole other scale.

(The first K-pop artist to enter a foreign market)

("BoA Tops Oricon Singles Chart Upon Releasing the Song")

("BoA, the First Korean Singer to Enter the Main Billboard Charts")

(She paved a new path for the Korean Wave in the 2000s.)

(The most representative artist of K-pop and a global artist)

I think we should record something here.

("Super Junior Sells out Concert Tickets in 3 Minutes in Taiwan")

("Super Junior Sells out 100,000 Seats at Tokyo Dome")

Here's our artist director.

Our first special artist director.

KEY is joining us today.

(The one and only and the unprecedented solo artist)

We will select the last members for NCT.

The journey of NCT Universe : LASTART...

has begun.

- These guys must be really nervous. - Right.

This will air on TV.

I bet they are really nervous.

You know, when I was a trainee,

performing for a couple of executives...

was scarier than performing for 100 or 200 people.

- Right. - And it was more nerve-racking.

I didn't have any monthly evaluations when I was a trainee.

- Really? - I heard they implemented...

monthly evaluations after I made a debut.

- Really? - I was never evaluated.

Right.

When did you audition? Which year was it?

- It was 1998. - It was 1998.

Someone from the agency gave me a business card.

I was told to come and audition, so I went to the agency.

The casting team took me to the practice room.

They told me to dance.

- You know camcorders, right? - Yes.

- The old camcorder. - They filmed me with that.

I got the call on the day. They wanted to sign me right away.

- Right away? That's crazy. - Yes.

They just spotted talent when they saw one.

- Was it an open audition for you? - Yes.

I auditioned like three times or something.

- Really? - They didn't pass me for all those times.

- You didn't pass on your first try? - No.

- I thought you got in on your first try. - No.

When I first went, it was Chuseok or something.

Three people came to audition.

So when I went to sign the contract,

the guy who evaluated me remembered me.

- He said, "You're the kid who danced..." - You saw him then.

"and sang on Chuseok. Right?"

I sang too.

He remembered me.

Actually, I was a part of the reality competition show.

- But the program ended. - I see.

- So it was unfortunate. - Really?

But I participated in it, at least.

So I know how nervous it feels to audition and the pressure that comes with it.

I sort of know how that feels.

But here's what I did back then.

I prepared to sing and rap.

But right before I went in,

I had to choose one.

But I prepared to do two things.

So I went in and mixed those two.

- Really? - Yes.

Like this. That's what I did.

I got clever. I remember that.

You were very quick on your feet.

Back then, Kangta was evaluating me.

He thought it was funny.

- It must've made you... - Right.

- look crazy in a good way. - Right.

- Right. - "What's up with this guy?"

Here's what I want to see too.

I want to see how clever they can be on stage.

I'm curious to find out...

about how they will handle this with their wits and quick thinking.

I mostly focused on the performances.

So I did see some room for improvement.

How can you appeal to the public with different charms?

(He gave detailed advice from a performer's point of view.)

(Artist Eunhyuk will reveal a lot of secret tips.)

With the mindset that you want to show us a better performance...

As for me,

I can't lie.

I can only say they're good if I truly think they're good.

- We need someone like you. - I was famous...

- for being brutal on "K-pop Star." - Right. We need that.

(The cool-headed artist, BoA, has come back.)

You pointed out their pitch and notes.

(Her evaluations have gotten a bit more detailed this time.)

(And a series of performances that made the queen smile.)

It put me in a good mood.

It refreshed me.

(When she compliments, she's not shy to share them.)

(The moments of Cold and Warm BoA are coming soon.)

KEY has so many talents.

Well, he's a superstar now.

I'm sure there will be a lot of trainees who have you as their role model.

Everything you say to these trainees...

will be great nourishment for their growth.

Seriously. Before I made my debut,

I needed encouragement and some cheering from people.

So I do want to encourage them in a way.

I love performances like this.

(He's the most responsive artist director who showers them with compliments.)

(When you sing, you look exactly like this photo.)

(He tailors his feedback for each trainee.)

(It's okay if you want to take it up a notch.)

(He uses his entire body to give them advice.)

(KEY continues to compliment them on and on.)

In a way, they haven't started their careers yet.

So I really want this show to motivate them in a positive way.

That's how I mostly feel.

I do think that this is a great chance for me to give such chances.

SM Entertainment has never produced its own competition show with trainees.

- This is the 1st one. The very 1st one. - It's the 1st one.

- They always tried to keep us hidden... - Right.

- before we made a debut. - Right.

But the trends have changed a lot these days.

- Right. - A lot of fans can now watch...

the process of producing a group. That's the world we live in now.

First of all, we have become the panel of judges.

We are here to select our junior singers...

from our own agency. Singers who will follow in our footsteps.

- This is a lot of pressure. - Right.

- This is a huge deal. - Right.

And we're going to select members who will perform...

in Tokyo and Korea with the rest of the group.

So the fans all over the world can watch the entire process...

- of the group being formed from A to Z. - Right.

That's why we must speak in as many languages as we can.

Do you think you can do it?

- Of course. - "Of course."

- Of course. - Okay. Let's go.

We should speak in many different languages,

so our fans all over the world have an easier time understanding us.

What are your thoughts on NCT?

They aren't limited to the name of their group.

- They can take on many changes. - Right.

If not done properly, some concepts might look a bit perplexing.

But they are able to express these concepts...

- with new approaches. - Right.

Actually, it was hard to find a group like NCT in the K-pop scene.

With such groundbreaking concepts,

they performed together in a wide range of locations.

In a way, it's a new world.

They can show us limitless ways...

- to diversify our musical activities. - Right

Seeing "The 7th Sense" for the 1st time... That was their debut song, right?

- I was shocked when I saw that. - Right.

- I was surprised there was a group... - Right.

that could pull off a performance like that...

with that kind of music. And they were great too.