K-POP Star Hunt is a regional competition that captures the popularity of Korean popular music (K-Pop) in Asia, and gave the Asian viewers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a K-Pop star.
K-pop Star Hunt was organized by CJ E&M and Fox International. The show was broadcast in southeast Asia by the main channel, Channel M (now known as tvN Asia) and also other channels such as Star World Asia, Channel [V] and Mnet in South Korea.
K-pop Star Hunt seasons 1 and 2 worked with Cube Entertainment in searching for the next K-pop star. FNC Entertainment took over as the star hunter in Season 3.
The eventual winner of season 1 was Sorn of Thailand,Channel M, Fox International Channels. (June, 2011). http://www.tvnstarhunt.com . In KPop Star Hunt. Retrieved Mar, 2012, from http://www.tvnstarhunt.com . while season 2's winner was Ling Ling, also from Thailand. Andy of Taiwan was crowned as the winner for season 3.
Winners Year Season Winner Runner-up(s) 2011 Chonnasorn Sajakul (Sorn) Rince Erich Cajucom (Rince) 2012 Kawintida Sujindaporn (Ling Ling) Khairul Najmuddin Bin Abu Samah (Erul) 2013 Su I-chin (Andy) Putri Norizah Ibnor Riza (Putri)Stephanie Koh Yi Xin (Steph)Chananan Siriburee (Pik) Channel M, Fox International Channels. (June, 2011). http://www.tvnstarhunt2.com. In KPop Star Hunt. Retrieved Feb, 2013, from http://www.tvnstarhunt.com .
Season 1 (2011–2012)
CJ E&M Asia and Fox International have joined forces with Cube Entertainment to produce a new show called K-Pop Star Hunt, a survival program that will be carrying out auditions in popular cities around Asia to find the next potential Cube artist. Known as tvN K-pop Star Hunt: Cube Audition, the online audition started at the end of August.
The overall winner of tvN K-Pop Star Hunt: Cube Audition will get an exclusive contract and 3-year training with South Korea's top record label Cube Entertainment, home to A-list pop groups Beast, BtoB, 4Minute and female artiste G.NA.
Countries that Season Auditions were held at: Hong Kong Singapore Thailand Philippines Taiwan
Contestants: (ages are at time of competition) Contestant Nickname Age Country Audition Rank Andy Lui Andy 17 Hong Kong Top 11 Chan Wing Tung Nicola 18 Hong Kong Top 11 Yu-Jeng Kuan Chris 17 Taiwan Top 11 Thidarat Rommaneeyapet June 14 Thailand Top 11 Charmaine Cubos Albino Meng 17 Philippines Top 11 Maressa Zahirah Maressa 22 Singapore Top 11 Charlene Cubos Albino Leng 17 Philippines Top 5 Tan Li Jun Jasmine Jasmine 16 Singapore Top 5 Ying-yan Chen Lucica 15 Taiwan Top 3 Rince Cajucom Rince 19 Philippines Runner-up Chonnasorn Sajakul Sorn 15 Thailand
Results OrderEpisodes146781MaressaJuneCharleneSornSorn2JasmineAndyLucicaRinceRince3AndyCharmaineSornLucica4NicolaChrisRince5ChrisCharleneJasmine6LucicaRince7CharleneSorn8RinceJasmine9CharmaineLucica10JuneNicola11SornMaressa
First Season Missions:
Episode 3, 4: 1ST MISSION: Master A K-Pop Song (Vocal) Charmaine picked 2NE1's "I Don't Care", Charlene picked CNBLUE's "I'm a Loner", Nicola picked Girls' Generation's "Gee", Andy picked F.T. Island's "Love Love Love", Jasmine picked Apink's "I Don't Know", Maressa picked Beast's "Fiction", June picked After School's "Because of You", Sorn picked Davichi's "8282", Lucica picked f(x)'s "Pinocchio (Danger)" while both Rince and Chris picked Taeyang's "Only Look At Me".
Episode 5, 6: 2ND MISSION: Catch Up With Beast and 4Minute (Dance) Jasmine & Rince: Beast's "Shock" Charlene, Sorn & Lucica: 4Minute's "Muzik"
Episode 7: 3RD MISSION: Duet With Trainee (Collaboration) Sorn is paired with Lee Changsub (BtoB) to do "Timeless" by Zhang Liyin featuring Xiah Junsu (JYJ), Rince is paired with Kim Seo-Ae to do "I Happen to Love You" by Jo Kwon (2AM) and Gain (Brown Eyed Girls) and Lucica is paired with Yook Sungjae (BtoB) to do "Trouble Maker" by Trouble Maker.
Episode 8: FINAL MISSION: Final Showdown (Vocal + Dance) Rince's mission song: "I'm Sorry I Can't Smile For You" by 2AM and dance song: "Closer" by Ne-Yo Sorn's mission song: "Because You are Mine" by G.NA and dance song: "Not Myself Tonight" by Christina Aguilera.
Season 2 (2012–2013)
Following the success of Season 1, K-pop Star Hunt Season 2 announced Malaysia, Japan and Vietnam as the sixth, seventh and eighth auditioning country along with Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines.
The winner of K-Pop Star Hunt Season 2 received an intensive professional training under CJ E&M and Cube Entertainment, along with an album release, and the opportunity to make a debut stage appearance at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards, the leading international music award show in Korea.
Countries that Season Auditions were held at: Hong Kong Singapore Thailand Philippines Taiwan Vietnam Malaysia Japan
Contestants: (ages are at time of competition):
Contestant Nickname Age Country Audition Rank Ngô Đặng Thu Giang Giang 22 Vietnam Top 16 Leona Ho Leona 18 Hong Kong Top 16 Tsai Chih-Ang Chih-Ang 27 Taiwan Top 16 Saika Maeda Saika 20 Japan Top 16 Shimali De Silva Shimali 13 Hong Kong Top 12 Anthea Wang Yi Thong Anthea 16 Singapore Top 12 Isarapa Thawatpakdee Tarwarn 15 Thailand Top 12 Nguyễn Diệu Hương Trang Hương Trang 22 Vietnam Top 12 Rendy Lauwandy Rendy 20 Singapore Top 8 Nur Shazreen Binti Sharupidin Eryn 18 Malaysia Top 8 Miku Ishida Miku 22 Japan Top 8 Tanya Tai Tanya 21 Taiwan Top 5 Liahona Flores Liahona 15 Philippines Top 5 Sheila Eunice Ona Sheila 21 Philippines Top 3 Khairul Najmuddin Bin Abu Samah Erul 20 Malaysia Runner-up Kawintida Sujindaporn Ling Ling 15 Thailand
Results OrderEpisodes5681011121LeonaAntheaErynMikuSheilaShimaliTanyaTrangRendyEryn2ShimaliSheilaTanyaErul3LiaMikuErulErulSheila4SheilaErulSheilaSheila5Chih-AngTrangLiahonaLiahona6TanyaLiaMiku7ErulTanya8ErynAntheaRendy9TarwarnErulTanya10TarwarnShimali11SaikaLeonaEryn12MikuRendyTarwarn13RendyGiang14AntheaChih-Ang15GiangLiahona16TrangSaika
Second Season Missions:
SPECIAL MISSION: Runners-up Special Challenge Chih-Ang (Taiwan) sang 2AM's "Can't Let You Go Even If I Die" Liahona (Philippines) sang 2NE1's "Ugly" Giang (Vietnam) sang Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" Saika (Japan) sang Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" Leona (Hong Kong) sang Duffy's "Mercy" Tarwarn (Thailand) sang Taeyeon's "If" Rendy (Singapore) sang Yesung's "It Has To Be You" Erul (Malaysia) sang Yesung's "It Has To Be You"
Episode 8: 1ST MISSION: My Best Song Rendy picked Ra.D's "Mom" Trang picked Tamia's "Almost" Sheila picked 2NE1's "It Hurts (Slow)" Erul picked K.Will's "Please Don't" Shimali picked Taylor Swift's "Sparks Fly" Eryn picked Wonder Girls' "So Hot" Anthea picked Jessie J's "Who's Laughing Now" Tarwarn picked IU's "Secret" Miku picked Baek Ji-young's "P.S I Love You" Liahona picked G.NA's "Because You're Mine" Tanya picked Baek Ji-young's "That Woman" Ling Ling picked Baek Ji-young's "That Woman"
Episode 10: 2ND MISSION: Team Mission With BTOB Sungjae Team: Miku, Tanya & Rendy performed 8Eight's "I Don't Have A Heart" Eunkwang Team: Erul, Sheila & Liahona performed Jung Eun-ji & Seo In-guk's "All For You" Chang-sub Team: Ling Ling & Eryn performed MC Mong & Lyn's "Letter To You"
Episode 11: 3RD MISSION: Master A Song Chosen By Shinsadong Tiger Ling Ling mission song Shin Seung-hun's "I Believe" Tanya mission song Davichi's "Don't Say Goodbye" Liahona mission song Davichi's "8282" Erul mission song Beast's "On Rainy Days" Sheila mission song Ailee's "I Will Show You"
Episode 12: FINAL MISSION: Song Of Your Choice & Favourite Performance Erul song choice Kim Bum-Soo's "I Miss You" and favourite performance 2PM's "I'll Be Back" Ling Ling song choice Sung Si-Kyung's "Hee Jae" and favourite performance Lee Hi's "1, 2, 3, 4" Sheila song choice Insooni's "Goose's Dream" and favourite performance Dream High 2 OST's "Superstar"
Season 3 (2013–2014)
The third season is organized by Channel M, a regional Asian K-pop channel jointly owned by CJ E&M and Fox International Channel, with full training support from FNC Entertainment, one of the top music labels in Korea, which houses idol band groups such as CNBLUE and F.T. Island, AOA, and soloist Juniel, and produced by Singapore-based, award-winning television production company, The Moving Visuals Co. Singaporean airline Scoot was the title sponsor for this season. The season premiere was on November 24, 2013.
The audition for Season 3 started on August 1, 2013, for the first phase of online video submission.
The overall winner for the 3rd season would receive a contract with CJ E&M and FNC Entertainment, 6 to 12 months of K-pop training in Korea, one collaboration song with one FNC artist, a solo debut in Korea and/or their native country, and participation in the 2014 Global M Countdown.
Countries that Season Auditions were held at: Singapore Taiwan Malaysia Thailand Hong Kong Philippines Indonesia
Contestants: (ages are at time of competition) Contestant Nickname Age Country Audition Rank Jean Kiley Manguera Jean 19 Philippines Top 14 Aggy Hong Aggy 20 Taiwan Top 14 Elma Nathania Christy Elma 18 Indonesia Top 12 Chester Briones Chester 19 Philippines Top 12 Lau Chun Yu Water 25 Hong Kong Top 10 Nopphan Chantarasorn Mickey 15 Thailand Top 10 Chua Jia Hang Yvonne 24 Singapore Top 10 Li Ka Yan Aileen 23 Hong Kong Top 7 Thoo Foo Joe Ryan 24 Malaysia Top 7 Ardina Glenda Chrysilla Glenda 18 Indonesia Top 5 Chananan Siriburee Pik 18 Thailand Top 4 Putri Norizah Ibnor Riza Putri 22 Malaysia Top 4 Stephanie Koh Yi Xin Steph 21 Singapore Top 4 Su I Chin Andy 15 Taiwan
Results OrderEpisodes1, 2, 3 4 5 6 7 81YvonnePikPutriGlendaAndyAndy2StephanieStephanieStephaniePutriStephaniePikPutriStephanie3RyanMickeyGlendaStephaniePutri4PutriPutriAileenPikPik5AndyGlendaPikAndyGlenda6AggyAileenAndyAileenRyan 7WaterRyanYvonneWater8AileenAndy9JeanYvonneRyan10ChesterWaterMickey11MickeyChesterElma12Pik13GlendaAggyJean14Elma
Third Season Missions:
1ST MISSION: Unleash Your Kpop Star Potential Putri sang Ailee's "Heaven" Chester sang Usher's "Oh My God" Aileen sang Ailee's "I Will Show You" Mickey sang Tiger Huang's Ryan sang TVXQ's "Hug" Andy sang Taeyang's "I Need A Girl" Glenda sang Davichi's "Don't Say Goodbye" Water sang Eason Chan's Pik sang Apink's "No No No" Steph sang Cher Lloyd's "Want U Back" Elma sang Taeyeon's "Missing You Like Crazy" Yvonne's performance was not shown.
2ND MISSION: The Next Vocal Of K-pop Water picked Bobby Kim's "Falling In Love Again" Pik picked AOA Black's "MOYA" Steph picked Lee Hi's "Rose" Ryan picked 2PM's "Again & Again" Glenda picked Zia's "Have A Drink" Aileen picked Younha's "Password 486" Yvonne picked BoA's "Only One" Andy picked CNBLUE's "Love Light" Mickey picked Henry's "Trap" Putri picked Gummy's "There Is No Love"
3RD MISSION: You'll Never Walk Alone Putri, Aileen, Glenda (Senoritas) - Navi's "I Ain't Go Home Tonight" Pik, Andy, Ryan, Steph (Ras-pect) - Se7en's "Better Together"
4TH MISSION: The Total Package Putri's music video Yoo Sung Eun's "Be Ok" Andy's music video PRIMARY's "See Through" Glenda's music video Baek Ji-young's "I Won't Love" Pik's music video G.NA's "I Will Back Off So You Can Live" Stephanie's music video Brown Eyed Girls' "Abracadabra"
5TH MISSION: The Grand Finale Putri sang Gummy's "There Is No Love" and Leona Lewis' "Homeless" Pik sang G.NA's "I Will Back Off So You Can Live" and TTS' "Twinkle" Andy sang Taeyang's "I Need A Girl" and G-Dragon's "Crayon" and "MichiGO" Stephanie sang Lee Hi's "Rose" and Avril Lavigne's "Rock & Roll"
After the show
SEASON 1: Sorn is with girl group CLC. She debuted in March 2015 under Cube Entertainment after 3 years of training. On November 16, 2021, she officially left CLC and Cube Entertainment and on December 3, 2021, she officially signed a contract with WILD Entertainment and debuted as soloist. Lucica is now a member of girl group A'N'D and also an actress in Taiwan.