SM Entertainment Group Member Opens Up About His Autism

SM Entertainment and Kakao Entertainment America recently created a new six-part series, Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience, which BBC now distributes.

Through this UK boy group project, we anticipate a palpable synergy between SM Entertainment’s prowess in K-pop production and Moon&Back Media’s expertise in developing music-genre TV shows. This collaboration will yield exceptional content that will captivate pop music fans, not only in the UK, but worldwide.

— Daniel Jang, CEO, SM Entertainment

This endeavour marks the first time we’ve utilised K-pop’s production expertise within the UK, the birthplace of pop music, to directly showcase the creation of artists and music IP. It represents a meaningful opportunity to connect with a global audience through a reality show that traces the group’s journey and development. We’re confident that this project will open a new chapter for K-pop, offering a unique entertainment experience to music enthusiasts worldwide. We look forward to witnessing the debut and growth of this boy group together, with hopes that viewers will discover a new side of K-pop and fall in love with it all over again.

— Joseph Chang, Co-CEO, Kakao Entertainment Corp

Kakao Entertainment (left) and SM Entertainment (right) logos

The limited series follows “five boys from across the UK as they are put through the K-pop training process with the goal of launching a new boy band on the global stage.” It was filmed in South Korea, documenting the boys’ trainee experience in SM Entertainment, working with the best choreographers, undergoing vocal, dance, and performance lessons, “life coaching techniques,” and more. The five British boys reportedly trained for 100 days in hopes of debuting as an idol group.

Each week the band’s progress is critiqued by undisputed K-pop expert, Hee Jun Yoon, the creative force behind some of the biggest K-pop bands of the last 20 years. This is the ultimate boot camp by the people who have created the world’s biggest K-pop superstars – but success is far from guaranteed.

— BBC

Producers for the show include Moon&Back Media, which was part of the team that developed and produced iconic shows Got Talent and The X Factor and beloved boy band One Direction.

Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience combines best in class from both K-pop and global entertainment production worlds. Forming a British boy band, schooling them through the unrivalled rigours of the K-pop process, and launching them on the global stage is creating both a world first and unmissable television.

— Nigel Hall, Co-founder, Moon&Back Media

The six-part series officially premiered via BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday, August 17, at 5:15 PM, with narration by Vick Hope. The group’s name and members were also revealed.

The group is called Dear Alice, and it’s comprised of 19-year-old Blaise Noon, 22-year-old Dexter Greenwood, 23-year-old James Sharp, 20-year-old Olly Quinn, and 20-year-old Reese Carter.

🇰🇷 We went to Seoul to train with some of K-pop's best vocal & dance coaches. It's the craziest, and best, experience we've ever had! 🩵 James, Blaise, Dexter, Reese, Olly#dearalice #jamessharp #dextergreenwood #ollyquinn #blaisenoon #reesecarter pic.twitter.com/QmgsGRH7xM

— Dear Alice (@dearalicemusic) August 1, 2024

In a new episode of Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience, James revealed to his members that he is on the Autism spectrum. He opened up to them about his struggles, and they responded thoughtfully. His members asked him to educate them and what they could do to support him.

James' openness to his members about his autism shows his comfort level with them. And the fact that the members were asking for guidance and attempting to understand his condition caused me to feel emotional. He receives a lot of support from the members! #DearAlice #MadeInKorea pic.twitter.com/8XGzCqlQ5S

— Missblegh (@Missblegh) August 26, 2024

Netizens reacted to the heartfelt clip via social media. They realized how monumental it is for an artist under one of the most famous K-Pop entertainment companies to speak about his Autism publicly.

@dearalicex

i love seeing us have representation it genuinley means so much to me ☹️ #jamessharp #dearalice #fyp #dearalicex #autism #actuallyautistic

♬ original sound – Dear Alice

james from dear alice being open about his autism wow i’m about to tear up knowing he is with a big kpop agency

— ☆ (@omgshota) August 24, 2024

james from dear alice opening up about his autism im so glad he felt comfortable enough to do that and its nice to get some open representation

— ☆ charlie 🗝️ ; MET BILLLIE 🦉 (@odeslcvr) August 24, 2024

Many Autistic K-Pop fans were emotional after watching the scene. Representation is so important.