An Apple TV+ documentary brings a whole lot of gritty reality to dreams of becoming a Korean pop star. K-Pop Idols features interviews with young singers that reveal the enormous amount of effort needed to make their performances look effortless.
The trailer for the series includes one of its young stars saying, “I thought being a K-pop idol was going to be all great and beautiful, but that’s not the reality.”
UPDATE: The new docuseries premiered on Apple TV+ on Friday. All six episodes are ready to stream now.
K-Pop Idols: So much work goes into a dream
K-pop, short for Korean popular music, is a meld of influences from around the globe, including pop, hip-hop, rock and more, all layered on top of traditional Korean musical styles. It’s extra-challenging for performers because performances include highly choreographed dancing as much as singing.
An Apple TV+ docuseries follows the challenges that Jessi, Cravity and Blackswan endure as they struggle to become K-Pop Idols.
“The series delves into the personal and professional challenges these artists face — from Jessi’s reflections on life and career to the fierce competition within Blackswan and Cravity’s creative evolution,” promises Apple. “As the journey unfolds, audiences will experience the highs and lows of the K-pop world, from international performances and family connections to unexpected news and pivotal career decisions.”
The quotes in the K-Pop Idols trailer make it clear that these artists face titanic pressure to succeed. As one of the young performers says, “We have dance class, vocal lessons, music shows and no sleep.” As another says, the challenge is, “Are you willing to sacrifice everything?”
Watch the K-Pop Idols trailer to get your first taste:
Let’s start the show!
K-Pop Idols premiered globally on Friday, August 30, 2024. Watching comes with a subscription to Apple TV+. The streaming service costs $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle.
This is hardly Apple’s first documentary with a music theme. Watch Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You, Beastie Boys Story, Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, The Velvet Underground or 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything after K-Pop Idols.
