Universal Studio Group Audio (USG Audio), Novel, and public media organization PRX have teamed up to launch Mission K-Pop, a new eight-part documentary podcast exploring the pursuit of K-pop stardom through the eyes of a young woman chasing her dream.
Hosted by global journalist Haeryun Kang, the series debuted on Oct. 13 and is now available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, and Pocket Casts. New episodes will be released every Monday.
A Journey from Los Angeles to Seoul
At the heart of the podcast is 23-year-old Caty Szeto, who travels from her home in Los Angeles to Seoul, South Korea, to attend a K-pop training academy. First drawn to the genre as a teenager, Szeto often struggled with the lack of Asian-American representation in mainstream entertainment. Determined to take her shot, she now faces the grueling reality of training in singing, dancing, and styling as she prepares for life-changing auditions with K-pop agencies.
“I’ve covered K-pop for many years. It was astounding to see how far the K-pop dream had spread all over the world, to someone like Caty,” said Kang, who previously covered Blackpink for Rolling Stone. “As a first-gen K-pop fan myself, I saw glimpses of my own childhood in Caty’s love of K-pop. I hope audiences can also connect to that daring joy of falling in love with a dream.”
Beyond the Spotlight
The podcast not only captures Szeto’s personal story but also examines the wider cultural and industry realities surrounding K-pop.
“Mission K-Pop captures the ambition, artistry, and challenges at the heart of one of the world’s most powerful cultural movements,” said Josh Bloch of USG Audio.
Max O’Brien, co-founder and Chief Content Officer at Novel, added, “This is a beautifully produced series about the hopes and dreams of one singer whose story lets us tap into the extraordinary K-Pop universe. It was a challenge and a pleasure to get to produce a deeply emotive narrative podcast that doesn’t rely on true crime to deliver drama.”
Stephanie Kuo, Vice President of Content at PRX, noted that the project reflects a broader cultural resonance: “K-Pop is a significant, expanding part of our culture, and we’re thrilled to now bring listeners on a personal journey through its world with nuance, surprise, and powerful storytelling. This is also a universal tale of ambition and persistence.”
You can listen to the podcast here.
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Featured Image Credit: USG Audio
