SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's leading entertainment companies, will open SM UNIVERSE(http://www.smuniverse.com/eng/) on March 15, a training center aiming to develop global artists. The center offers a three-year semester system for high school students who aim to enter the entertainment industry. This article will delve into the details of the SM UNIVERSE training center, including the majors it offers, tuition fees, the admission process, and its target audience.
The Majors Offered at SM UNIVERSE
SM UNIVERSE provides five majors: producer, vocalist, dancer, model, and acting. The center aims to nurture diverse talents in the entertainment industry to make them globally competitive. To expand the scope of education, SM Entertainment has partnered with top domestic and foreign modeling agencies, 'ESTEEM', and 'Jongno Academy'.
Admission and Tuition Fees
Admission to SM UNIVERSE is open to high school students who dream of becoming artists. To gain admission, students must pass a qualification exam, which Jongno Academy will oversee. The center operates on a semester system, making it challenging to combine with the elementary, middle, and high school curriculums.
The number of enrolled students is 120 per semester, with 40 slots reserved for vocal courses and 20 for other courses. Admission fees are quite expensive, with vocal courses costing 10 million won per semester and 2.5 million won per month, excluding the vacation period. The rest of the courses cost 8.8 million won per semester. Admission students will be selected through an audition process, and admission for the second semester, which begins in September, will involve paperwork and auditions between July and August.
SM UNIVERSE Target Audience
The main target group for SM UNIVERSE is high school students who dream of becoming artists. The center provides an opportunity for aspiring artists to focus solely on their craft and hone their skills without distractions from the regular curriculum. However, this does not mean that students will not receive an academic education, as the center aims to provide a balanced academic and artistic curriculum.
The Challenges Faced by SM UNIVERSE
SM UNIVERSE faces some challenges in its operation. The center's three-year semester system makes it difficult to combine with the elementary, middle, and high school curriculums. This makes the center's target audience mostly high school students who have decided to pursue careers in the entertainment industry.
Another challenge is the cost of tuition fees, which can be a significant barrier to entry for aspiring artists from low-income families.
The Leadership of SM UNIVERSE
Jang Jae-ho, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of SM Entertainment, will serve as CEO of SM UNIVERSE Academy. The website lists general producer Lee Soo-man, CEO of SM Entertainment Lee Sung-soo, Kangta, Bada, and U-Know Yunho as mentors. This leadership team brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the center, which will benefit the students.
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