K-pop Star

Survival Audition K-pop Star (Korean: 서바이벌 오디션 K팝 스타) is a South Korean reality competition television series where three entertainment/talent agencies in South Korea hold worldwide auditions to find the next potential K-pop stars. Preliminary auditions are held around the world in Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. The final winner debuts with the company of their choice, along with a cash prize of three hundred million won (approx. 300,000 U.S. dollars), two brand new vehicles, opportunities to become commercial models and casting in dramas, and many more benefits.

The original three judges for the series were Yang Hyun-suk, founder of YG Entertainment and former member of the popular South Korean act Seo Taiji & Boys, Park Jin-young, singer/songwriter and founder of JYP Entertainment, and Korean pop icon BoA, from SM Entertainment. SM, YG, and JYP are the three largest management companies in Korea. BoA was replaced by singer-songwriter You Hee-yeol of Antenna Music for Season 3. With the changes in judges for the third season, the three judges no longer represent the "Big 3" management companies.

K-pop Star is a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup, along with Running Man. The show's first season aired on December 4, 2011, every Sunday evening at 6:30 pm, until April 29, 2012. The second season aired from November 18, 2012 to April 14, 2013 at 4:55 pm. Singer Yoon Do-hyun and entertainer Boom hosted the live competition for Season 1 and 2. Yoon Do-hyun narrated through the entire process in Season 1 and 2. The third season aired from November 24, 2013 to April 13, 2014, every Sunday evening at 4:40 pm KST. Jun Hyun-moo and Yoo Hye-young [ko] became the new hosts of Season 3, replacing Yoon Do-hyun and Boom. The fourth season aired from November 23, 2014 to April 12, 2015 every Sunday evening at 4:50 pm KST, with Girl's Day's Yura as live host, replacing Yoo Hye-young. The fifth season began airing on November 22, 2015.

The sixth season was announced to be the final season of K-pop Star, titled K-pop Star 6: The Last Chance. Changes to the format have been made to the final season to encourage anyone to participate in "the last chance" to become a K-pop Star. The final season aired in November 2016.

Applicants can apply by phone or online during summer months, with preliminary auditions taken place in the summer months from June to September. Applicants showcase their talent to production staff who determine if they are suitable and eligible for the main audition. Many singers and idols from the three companies also help out in the preliminary audition process. Potential contestants may also audition through SBS Radio programs and bypass the preliminary auditions altogether. Preliminary auditions are held not only in South Korea, but around the world in Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia as well.

Contestants who passed the preliminary auditions now face the three judges in the first round of auditions. Contestants showcase their talent in singing and/or dancing, and must receive at least two of three passes from the judges or be given a wild card from one judge to proceed to round two.

Contestants who passed round one meet with the judges of their choice for further advice and help. Following the "Contact Audition", the contestants are organized into different groups representing their strongest talent (singing, keyboard, dancing, groups, etc.). The contestants in these groups are then ranked by the judges, with a cutoff set by the judges to decide who is eliminated.

Similar to "Ranking Audition", contestants choose a judge for further advice and help, with judges grading their contestants as "Good", "Fair", or "Poor". The contestants in these groups are then judged comparatively, deciding who is eliminated and who proceeds to the third round. An undetermined number of contestants from the "Good" group may pass, but only up to three teams can pass from the "Poor" group.