K-POP fans have already begun making predictions about the finale results of JYP Entertainment’s new reality competition show, A2K.
The series, which stands for America 2 Korea, aired its second episode on Monday and viewers quickly became fans of one of the new contestants, 12-year-old Kaylee Lee.
A2K, which looks to find the “very first American girl group trained through the K-Pop system,” according to a press release, releases new episodes on JYP’s YouTube every Monday and Thursday.
The show is a partnership between JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, and the show’s upcoming girl group will release music via both companies.
One of the contestants in the running to join the group is Kaylee, a 12-year-old Korean American from Philadelphia, who passed her audition during Monday’s new episode.
JYP Entertainment founder and chairman J.Y. Park, who is the sole judge of the auditions, praised Kaylee for her raw talent in both singing and dancing.
Read More on Singing Shows
While he said she’s not currently “good,” he believes that she has the potential to be “great.”
J.Y. also applauded the tween for her passion and drive after she revealed she mostly studied singing on her own via videos.
Fans at home couldn’t help but agree with him, gushing over how “cute” she is and how much “potential” she has as a K-pop star.
Many, though, don’t think she’ll win A2K and become part of the show’s girl group, as they feel she’s too young.
Most read in Entertainment
Seven girls have gone through to the next round so far, with everyone aside from Kaylee either 16 or 17 years old.
Instead, viewers think J.Y. will invite Kaylee to join his company, which houses mega-artists like TWICE and Stray Kids, as a trainee and have her debut with a future group in a few years.
One fan theorized on social media: “Kaylee Lee won't win because she's too young but she'll 100% become a JYPE trainee after this.”
A second guessed: “I'm very sure that kaylee won't debut with other #a2k girls right now but she will be a trainee for a long time until the time comes when she grows up, good luck Kaylee.”
A third insisted: “She has a lot of potential for such little training, but man....I just cant sign on to a 12 year old.
“Invite her back to Korea for a future group, but thats too young for here and now.”
Another wrote: “I think Kaylee is gonna get eliminated in the final episode but then later we find out that JYP takes her in as a trainee and become a 5th gen kpop idol through regular Kpop training period.”
“Still very young she can probably just become a regular trainee and debut with JYP's next girl group in a few years,” one fan suggested.
A2K was first announced back in July 2022 ahead of the auditions, which were held in various cities in the United States throughout September.
J.Y. said at the time, via press release: ”This is the biggest project ever for me and JYP Entertainment. Making an American artist through the K-pop system.
“Not only because America is the biggest market in the world but because I started this company based on an American model which is Motown records.
“I was so inspired how they developed their artists. We just took it to another level making it into a system.”
Read More on The US Sun
He added: “A system where we find raw talents and give them a perfect training system where they learn all things that are required to grow into a true artist/ performer/ leader.
“And 25 years later, to go back into the market where I got the idea from is truly unbelievable.”
