MTV USA to feature Korean idols for first time

Published on 2010/06/08 | Source

Members of boy band Teen Top [T.O.P Media]

Boy band Teen Top will star on one of MTV USA's upcoming shows this coming fall, making it the first time an idol group from Korea will be featured on American television.

Teen Top's agency T.O.P Media on Tuesday said that a program called "Vice Guide to Everything", about how the boys train to become idol singers, will air on the music channel starting September.

For three months starting January, MTV USA had searched all of Asia for idols who have yet to make a debut, basing their research on how much musical talent and star quality they have, as well as reviewing the training system they would undergo.

A producer from MTV USA flew into Korea in April, shooting the process of how the boy band undergoes training in dancing, singing, a second language, miming, mannerisms and doing interviews.

"Neal, who is the lead vocalist, has the tone of a young Michael Jackson. They are fit to compete in markets overseas too because the English skills of one of their members is at the level of a native speaker", said a MTV associate who interacted directly with the boys on the show.

Teen Top, a six-member group, have backgrounds as child actors and were chosen through auditions at major theme park Lotte World. They will make their official debut at the end of June.