Get ready for the next international K-pop group set to be trained by the very best in the industry!

K-pop survival show “Be the Next: 9 Dreamers!” presented by MLD Entertainment PH premieres 8 February on TV5, with 75 contestants known as “dreamers” competing to be a part of the nine-member boy group.

These potential idols made up of primarily Filipino aspirants will be mentored by a star-studded panel of established K-pop stars that will make their dreams of being a K-pop idol into a reality!

2NE1’s Sandara Park, who grew up in the Philippines and a leading figure in the spread of the Korean Wave in the country, will be the main host of the program. During the media launch of the show on 20 January, Dara expressed her excitement for what the contestants have to offer as future K-pop idols.

“I’m not a mentor, but as a host, I’ll look at them as a fan. I cannot give them advice, but I’ll be a good ate to them. That is one of my aim[s] for this show,” she said.

Making up the A-list lineup of mentors are AB6IX’s Park Woojin, former TREASURE member and soloist Bang Ye-dam, HORI7ON’s Vinci, former MOMOLAND member Hyebin, and EXO’s Chen, who couldn’t attend the event due to schedule conflicts. K-pop choreographer Bae Wan-hee who will serve as the dance coach, and producer Bull$EyE who will teach the contestants how to produce music.

Vinci, the only Filipino member among the mentors told DAILY TRIBUNE that the survival show taking place in the Philippines is great for aspiring Filipino idols, and that he’s anticipating what they’ll be able to show to a global audience.

“As a HORI7ON MEMBER, yun yung isa sa [mga] mission namin,(one of our missions) is to have more Filipino idols in the scene. And hopefully it continues to happen, kasi it has happened with KATSEYE, with UNIS, and with us as well. So, I hope more Filipinos come to the scene and makilala talaga yung (get to know ) the Filipino talent all over the world and ma-appreciate [nila]. ‘Yun yung hinahangad ko for this show (This is what I hope for the show),” he said.

Bang Ye-dam, who participated in YG Entertainment’s survival show which led to the formation of TREASURE in 2020, said that not only does he want to help the dreamers in dancing and singing, but also focus on other skills an idol should have.

For Hyebin, she said that it’s important to have mentors who see their potential early on and continue pushing them to improve themselves, looking back at her trainee days in the survival show that led to the making of MOMOLAND.

“I would like to be a mentor who would be able to recognize their talents at an early stage,” she told the press.

AB6IX’s Woojin said that he wants to train the contestants through sharing his own experiences during his trainee days with them to help these dreamers push through.

“I would like to be a member who the trainees will remember not only here [within the show] but when they experience success in their lives as well,” he said.

Choreographer Bae Wan-hee said that while it would be tough to choose the final nine members, he will look at how hard they would be willing to work, and for them to remember him as a mentor they would be intimidated by, but also as a friend.

Bull$EyE, as a music producer, aims to train the contestants in production as well rather than just singing and dancing, which the other mentors would focus more on.

“As I’m here to produce music, I would like to be a mentor who would help them in producing music, that will not only stop here in The Philippines, but to also spread all over the world,” he said.

Profiles introducing the 75 contestants have already been posted on the show’s social media platforms in line with the show’s first episode. Be the Next: 9 Dreamers will air on Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. and on Sundays at 8:15 p.m. on TV5.