The production company behind Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” is set to release a new K-pop idol audition program, “Project 7,” on Friday, which will be broadcast through global platforms in countries like Japan and the United States.

The K-pop audition program is produced by Studio Slam, a subsidiary label of production company SLL, which was responsible for the production of JTBC’s audition franchise “Sing Again” (2020-24) and the detective variety show “Crime Scene Returns.”


The show will be hosted by model and actor Lee Soo-hyuk and feature notable figures in K-pop, such as producer Ryan Jhun and singer Ha Sung-woon.

The program will have viewers vote to “select” from the 100 participants in the first round to "assemble and upgrade" different teams, according to SLL. The final team will be a seven-member boy group.

The show will air simultaneously in Korea on JTBC and in Japan through Japanese streaming platform Abema. Japanese viewers can also watch it on the Mnet Japan channel five days after its Korean broadcast.

In the American regions, the show will be available through two streaming platforms — OndemandKorea (ODK) and Rakuten Viki — while in the Chinese-speaking countries, the show will be broadcast on LINE TV after its Korean airing.

The show will also be accessible in some 190 countries, including those in Europe, the Middle East and Oceania, via Rakuten Viki.

A total of 78 countries, including eight regions in Southeast Asia — Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar — along with nations in the Middle East and Africa will be able to watch the audition program on streaming platform Viu immediately after its Korean airing.

Additionally, "Project 7" will be broadcast in real-time on its official YouTube channel and on its community page on Weverse. 'The YouTube broadcast will include English subtitles, except in some 10 countries including Japan, Chinese-speaking countries and Singapore.

This global real-time broadcast initiative aims to enhance the show's ability to connect with K-pop fans worldwide, according to SLL.

“As ‘Project 7’ will be available globally from its first episode, SLL will provide full support for K-pop fans to follow the contestants’ growth and support their activities,” SLL said in a press release. “Also we will continue providing high-quality content that follows our global fans’ expectations through various platforms."


BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]