Okay, fellow stans — this is the kind of news that gives me chills. Galaxy Corporation (the entertainment tech company named in the press release as working with global superstar G-Dragon) just held local auditions in Los Angeles for what they’re calling their first fully virtual K-pop group, and the setup was straight out of a sci‑fi concert.
Instead of performing face-to-face, contestants sang and moved behind a massive screen while their voices and motions were instantly translated into avatars using a simple phone. Judges evaluated the performances without ever seeing the performers’ faces. Galaxy exec GK says LA was chosen because it’s a cultural crossroads where music, tech and entertainment converge — and because of the city’s diverse artist community.
Fans on the ground — like Emma Salehi, who’s been into K-pop since 2018 — are intrigued. She pointed out how K-pop’s performance-driven, multi-talented idols and passionate fandoms make it a natural fit for new formats like virtual groups. The popularity of projects such as Netflix’s animated K-pop hit “K-pop Demon Hunters” has also helped introduce virtual acts to wider audiences.
Why this matters:
- Galaxy Corporation is positioning this as a global project and has ties to major K-pop names (the PR links the company to G-Dragon).
- Virtual artists have already gained traction in Korea — the PR specifically mentions groups like Plaive as successful examples.
- Streaming growth backs the momentum: Spotify reports global K-pop streams rose more than 360% between 2018 and 2023.
- Los Angeles (and Koreatown in particular) continues to be a major K-pop hub in the U.S., with active fandoms and many local events and stores.
Bottom line: this isn’t just a cute tech demo — entertainment companies are betting that virtual idols can ride K-pop’s global energy. For fans, it opens new ways to focus on music and performance (and maybe enjoy a layer of privacy or novelty for artists). I, for one, am so curious to see how these avatars will be staged, choreographed and interacted with by fandoms.
Source: Spectrum News NY1