Finding U.S.-based K-pop stars? Inside the crazy new reality competition

SM Entertainment and MGM Worldwide Television Group announced their plan to launch an American reality competition aimed at scouting talent for a new NCT subunit called NCT Hollywood. The partnership sought to extend the reach of Korean entertainment into the U.S. market by training and selecting young male performers who would ultimately join the global roster. The original vision included travel to Seoul for intensive preparation in performance, styling, and choreography before any final selections.

NCT’s subunit & concept

NCT continues to operate under the Neo Culture Technology model that allows flexible membership and rotating lineups. The current roster stands at twenty-four active members spread across seven subunits. NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT U remain the core units, while newer additions include NCT DoJaeJung, NCT Wish, and NCT JNJM, the last of which debuted in February 2026. The Mark departure in April 2026 reduced both NCT 127 and NCT Dream by one member each, shifting the balance within those groups while the overall concept of an ever-expanding international lineup stays intact.

The first K-pop competition series based in the U.S.

The proposed series was framed as the first K-pop audition program developed and based in the United States. Contestants were expected to audition locally before heading to Seoul for training under Lee Soo-man and select NCT members. Lee Soo-man described the project as an unconventional format that would let global audiences watch new stars emerge from Hollywood and later promote them as NCT Hollywood. MGM chairman Mark Burnett called the partnership an example of the innovative global programming the studio wanted to pursue. No further development or broadcast date has been confirmed since the 2021 announcement.

CHUANG 2021 and other idol competition shows

Survival-style programs have long shaped idol debuts across East Asia. CHUANG 2021 assembled ninety international contestants and produced the eleven-member C-pop group INTO1. That group completed its contract and disbanded in April 2023. In South Korea, Produce 101 created I.O.I from 101 female trainees, and the members have announced plans for a tenth-anniversary reunion concert in 2026. Regulatory changes in China curtailed further large-scale survival shows after INTO1’s run, while Korean formats continue with periodic reunion projects that keep earlier winners in the public eye.

NCT’s other reality series

NCT Life has documented the members’ daily routines and travel since 2016. The series now totals eleven seasons. Recent installments include NCT Life in Gapyeong, which followed NCT 127 during a group retreat. Earlier seasons featured foreign members acting as local guides, such as Yuta Nakamoto in Osaka and TEN in Chiang Mai, giving viewers a sense of how international members navigate their home cities with Korean bandmates.

Current Status of NCT Hollywood Project

The May 2021 partnership between SM Entertainment and MGM Television generated significant coverage at the time. The plan called for open auditions across the United States, followed by training in Seoul and eventual formation of NCT Hollywood. Public records show no episodes produced, no winner selection process, and no official updates through June 2026. Industry observers note that shifting priorities at both companies and the lack of further announcements have left the project in indefinite limbo.

Evolution of NCT Sub-Units Since 2021

Since the original article listed four subunits, NCT has continued to expand its fixed units. NCT DoJaeJung formed in 2023 as a vocal-focused trio. NCT Wish debuted later that year with a younger lineup aimed at newer fans. NCT JNJM arrived in February 2026 with the EP Both Sides, pairing Jeno and Jaemin from NCT Dream in a two-member configuration. These additions keep the Neo Culture Technology premise alive by creating smaller, concept-driven teams that can tour or record independently while still belonging to the larger NCT umbrella.

Legacy of CHUANG 2021 and Produce-Style Shows

CHUANG 2021 remains a benchmark for multinational survival programs. INTO1’s short career highlighted both the potential and the pressures of cross-border idol projects. The subsequent regulatory crackdown in China effectively paused similar large-scale shows, redirecting attention to smaller trainee programs and individual artist launches. Meanwhile, I.O.I’s planned 2026 reunion demonstrates how earlier Korean survival winners can still command attention years after their original contracts end, offering a model for long-term fan engagement that later programs have studied.

NCT Member Departures and Lineup Changes

High-profile exits have reshaped the group since 2021. Taeil was removed in 2024 following allegations. Shotaro and Sungchan departed in 2023 to form the new group RIIZE under the same agency umbrella. Mark’s exit in April 2026 further reduced the active roster in NCT 127 and NCT Dream. These changes have not altered the overall international makeup of the remaining members, who continue to represent Japan, Thailand, China, Canada, and the United States, but they have required subunit adjustments and new promotional strategies.

The 2021 announcement positioned NCT Hollywood as a bridge between American talent pipelines and Korean training systems. With no confirmed launch to date, the project stands as an example of ambitious cross-border plans that can stall amid shifting industry priorities. NCT itself has kept expanding through new subunits and reality programming, maintaining its reputation for constant reinvention even as the specific U.S. competition remains on hold.