The K-Pop Academy

Twelve-year-old Hana Kim has always dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol—singing, dancing, and dazzling the world on stage. When she earns a scholarship to KPop Academy, Seoul’s most prestigious training school, she’s ready for hard work, long hours, and intense competition. What she’s not prepared for are the shadows—dark, whispering demons that slink into rehearsal rooms and feed on the students’ fears of failure.

Every year, one trainee is chosen for the coveted Spotlight Solo, but legends say every winner is cursed. When Nari is selected, her anxieties spiral as shadow demons twist the superstition into a weapon. The group fractures under fear until Taeyang uncovers the truth behind the curse. To protect Nari, they must rally together and prove that friendship shines brighter than fear.

For their midyear exam, Hana’s group must achieve flawless kalgunmu (synchronized choreography). A legendary crystal drum promises to “hold the heartbeat of idols past,” but its magic drives them into rivalry instead of rhythm. To pass—and survive—the group must learn that true harmony comes from trust, not shortcuts.

An inter-school showcase pits K-Pop Academy against its fiercest rivals. Spirit guardians summoned by performances dazzle the crowds—but when one guardian goes rogue, the competition turns deadly. Hana’s team must face sabotage, betrayals, and the toxic side of fandom to protect each other and prove their loyalty is unbreakable.

Moving into the trainee dorms brings new independence and new dangers. Hana and her friends begin seeing animal avatars: a gentle, watchful tiger and a mischievous little bird. At first, the bird seems harmless, but as the group prepares for their debut music video, its true nature as a shadow spirit emerges. To protect their music—their strongest weapon against the darkness—they must trust the tiger and their instincts.

Graduation and debut decisions loom, but the academy is thrown into chaos by a demon conductor intent on silencing K-pop forever. To save their future, Hana and her friends must unite the entire school in one final performance powerful enough to drive the shadows away. Hana learns that even if she never debuts, her voice still carries the power to inspire.