Is It Too Late to Audition for K-pop Companies at 24?

Many aspiring K-pop stars wonder if it is too late for them to pursue this lucrative and competitive career. Especially for those in their mid-twenties, the question often arises: Is it still possible to debut in the K-pop industry?

The Typical Audition Age

Of course, the industry primarily focuses on younger contenders. Most K-pop companies accept individuals in their mid-twenties or younger. However, it is not entirely impossible to audition, even for those in their late twenties. The success largely depends on your talent, training, and the company's requirements.

Training and Debut Opportunities

Companies often have strict training periods, which can take anywhere from 6 to 10 years. If a company were to train you, they would aim to debut you at around 18 to 22 years old. For instance, training a 12-year-old for 6 years would result in a debut at 18, giving them 6 years of active idol life. However, as idols typically stop at around 28 to 30 years old, a 24-year-old would have a shorter window for a K-pop career.

Accordingly, if a company expects you to be ready for debut in 4 to 6 years, they might be less inclined to accept you. It is rare for an older person to debut in K-pop, but there are examples of idols who did so at a later age. However, the majority still debut in the early to mid-twenties.

Examples of Older K-pop Trainees

Here are a few instances where older individuals successfully auditioned and subsequently debuted:

Red Velvet's Irene was recruited by S.M. Entertainment as a trainee in 2009 at the age of 18. She trained there for five years and debuted with Red Velvet in 2014. Wanna One's Jisung was a contestant on Produce 101: Season 2 and was the oldest trainee on the show, joining at the age of 26. He continued his training and debuted with the group in 2017. A.C.E's Donghun and Jellyfish Entertainment's Jun started training at 21 and around 18, respectively, showing that even those in their late teens and early twenties can be successful. SM's Taeil from NCT and Big Hit's Victoria from FX both debuted at 19 and 20, respectively, after brief training periods. BTS's J-Hope, RM, and Rain Jin and Suga from Big Hit Entertainment all started training at around 19 and 20 after the group was formed. Mamamoo's Solar, the leader and main vocalist, started her training at 20, showing that later starts can still lead to success. She was originally training to be a flight attendant before signing up for a free gift, which led to her K-pop career. APink's Eunji trained for less than a year, indicating that even a brief training period can sometimes suffice.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, if you are passionate about the K-pop industry and are willing to make the necessary sacrifices, then it is never too late to audition. Obtain your parents' support and pursue your dreams with determination. You may never know how your life might change, especially in the world of K-pop, where opportunities can arise in unexpected ways.

So if you feel that you truly want to pursue a career in K-pop, take the plunge and go for it! Don't let any regret cloud your path. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey. It's all about perseverance, talent, and the right opportunities.