Fourteen aspiring idols from the reality program ViuTV’s King Maker VI traveled to South Korea this week, immersing themselves in the demanding K-pop industry structure and receiving critical mentorship from established artists during a pivotal phase of evaluation. The latest episode, broadcast last night (16th), documented the trainees’ rigorous cultural exchange, intensive performance preparation for a major television show, and subsequent second round of performance assessments.
The journey began with an inside look at a prominent Korean entertainment agency, culminating in a meeting and dance exchange with the burgeoning K-pop girl group AtHeart, whose members average just 17 years old. Trainees Jacky Fan, Qiu Lan, and Dave were selected to learn a new choreography and film social media ‘Reels’ with the group. Despite their relative inexperience in dance, their dedication was clear. In a compelling display of the K-pop system’s efficiency, AtHeart quickly mastered the complicated choreography for King Maker’s theme song, “Prelude.” Bystander Teller expressed awe, stating the group learned in 15 minutes what took him 15 days, a sentiment echoed by dance instructor Yip, who praised their rapid retention.
Star Mentorship and Navigating Stage Presence
The episode also focused on the six trainees—Bosco Kwan, Ian Hannz, Sam Kam, Dave, Larry, and Gordon—selected to appear alongside MIRROR member Anson Lo on the prestigious Korean music program SHOW CHAMPION.
During rehearsals, small technical mistakes led to noticeable disappointment among the contestants. Anson Lo, a former King Maker runner-up himself, immediately stepped in to offer invaluable industry guidance, particularly about mastering camera interaction. He advised those unfamiliar with tracking cameras to “stop trying to chase it,” and instead focus forward, ensuring a professional demeanor even if the camera catches them unexpectedly.
Following the successful recording, Anson Lo cooked budae jjigae (army stew) for his juniors, sharing wisdom rooted in his own early career struggles. He recalled constant feedback during his time on King Maker to “smile more,” yet critiques often pointed to their expressions being “like dancers,” lacking the necessary stage charisma and star power.
Anson Lo confessed to being paralyzed by tension and fear in his nascent idol years. To overcome this, he spent time analyzing the difference between his own stage delivery and that of seasoned performers, rather than merely mimicking them. “That was what I did every day for the first two or three years,” he noted. He emphasized that true stardom isn’t about giving 100% effort constantly, but about mastering self-control and relaxation—knowing when to “give more” and when to pull back, suggesting underlying confidence and reserved potential.
Exhaustion and Busking Battles
The competition intensified with the commencement of the second public assessment, where the 14 participants formed three self-selected groups for street performances, or Busking, in the bustling Hongdae district of Seoul. Their evaluations would inform their revised rankings.
The pressure weighed heavily on Group 2 (Gordon, Siu Kai, DaiMa, and Bosco Kwan), who had been juggling the rigorous SHOW CHAMPION rehearsals with domestic press conference duties. Gordon admitted to extreme exhaustion and insomnia, stating the workload made it impossible to practice their original four-person choreography, forcing them to abandon the plan.
Group 3 (Kirs, Dave, Qiu Lan, Jacky Fan, Ian Hannz, and Andy), many of whom had prior busking experience, initially faced internal conflicts. Andy received sharp criticism from a Korean vocal coach for being “greedy” in wanting to perform more than his current skill allowed, which affected his emotional state. This led to a heated exchange with Jacky Fan, who stressed the necessity of hitting the correct notes to avoid sabotaging the group’s collective effort. Following the confrontation, the team rallied, focusing on mutual enjoyment during the street performance. Jacky Fan observed their genuine engagement—”We were smiling ear to ear”—while Dave concluded that performing music they loved allowed their joy to shine through organically.
The results of the Busking assessment will determine which contestants advance, marking a critical juncture where mental resilience and teamwork prove as vital as raw talent.
