Pitched as a never-before-seen, intimate glimpse into the high-stakes, pressure-filled world of K-pop, Apple TV+’s six-part documentary series “K-Pop Idols” is days away from its global premiere.
Slated for release on August 30th, “K-Pop Idols” spotlights the journeys of Korean-American rapper-singer Jessi, the rising boy band CRAVITY, and the internationally acclaimed girl group BLACKSWAN.
Thanks to a first-look trailer, the docuseries hints at the euphoric highs and the harrowing lows these artists face as they navigate the demanding K-pop industry.
In the trailer, Jessi tearfully recounts the challenges of her European tour, CRAVITY’s Allen discusses the relentless schedules, and BLACKSWAN’s Fatou and Gabi sharing their struggles with homesickness and group dynamics.
“I thought being a K-Pop idol was going to all great and beautiful,” says Jessi. “That’s not the reality.”
Filmed across multiple countries, including South Korea, the US, and several parts of Europe, “K-Pop Idols” captures the global influence and reach of the K-pop phenomenon.
In Australia, the industry is booming. Following the exporting of acts like BTS, BLACKPINK (which features Australian member Rosè), and Stray Kids (of which two members have local ties, Bang Chan and Felix), experts have linked a surge in Korean language learning to the rising influence of K-pop and K-dramas.
“With ‘K-Pop Idols,’ we aimed to pull back the curtain on the competitive world of K-pop and tell the human stories behind these incredible artists,” said executive producer Elise Chung, known for her work on “Bling Empire.”
“This series is a tribute to the passion and perseverance of artists like Jessi, CRAVITY, and BLACKSWAN, who are redefining music on a global scale. We can’t wait for viewers to experience the challenges, triumphs, and everything in between that comes with pursuing the dream of becoming a K-pop idol.”
Produced by Matador Content, the series boasts an Emmy Award-winning production team, including Todd Lubin and Jay Peterson (“Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry”), Jack Turner (“Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields”), Sue Kim (“The Speed Cubers”), Bradley Cramp (“Lord of War”), and Eric Yujin Kim (“Undoing”).
The series also promises feature appearances from some of the artists’ famous friends.
“K-Pop Idols” will be available exclusively on Apple TV+ starting August 30th.