K-pop is no longer just South Korea’s cultural export. It is evolving into a global training and talent pipeline. From Seoul to Los Angeles, academies are shaping the next generation of performers, and now Singapore is home to the first SM Universe K-pop Academy outside Korea.

So why was Singapore chosen, and what does this mean for Southeast Asia’s role in the global K-pop ecosystem?

On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Jonathan Ang, Regional Director at SM Universe, about the business of training idols, Southeast Asia’s potential as a creative hub, and how K-pop’s globalisation is reshaping music, fandom culture, and the wider creative economy.