Survival shows are competitions where contestants compete with one another to get a spot in a debuting group. In addition to personality and charm, trainees are evaluated on their abilities in singing, dancing, rapping, and many other areas, leading to an increasing number of K-pop groups emerging through survival shows in the fourth generation. However, in the earlier generations of K-pop, not many groups had to go through a survival show to make their debut.

Here are five veteran K-pop girl groups that went through survival shows.

TWICE - SIXTEEN

TWICE is a renowned South Korean girl group that was formed and is managed by JYP Entertainment. The group was created as a result of Mnet’s girl group survival reality show "SIXTEEN," which ran from May 5 to July 7, 2015. There were a total of sixteen JYP trainees, both from South Korea and abroad. To join the girl group "TWICE," the trainees faced off against one another. The show has a total of ten episodes. Itzy’s Chaeryeong, fromis_9’s Jiwon, soloist Jeon Somi, Chaeyeon, and Natty were also participants “on SIXTEEN,” in addition to the members of TWICE.

I.O.I. - PRODUCE 101

Another South Korean girl group, I.O.I. (Ideal of Idol), was formed as a result of a survival show. The group was the product of the first season of the reality survival program “Produce 101.” The show was created by CJ E&M and aired on Mnet from January 22 to April 1, 2016. There are eleven episodes in total. Only 11 contestants were able to make it to the final lineup out of a total of 101 trainees from various entertainment agencies who participated as contestants on the show. I.O.I. was actively promoted for less than a year and disbanded in 2017.

MOMOLAND - FINDING MOMOLAND

Momoland is a K-pop girl group formed by MLD Entertainment through the reality survival program “Finding Momoland.” The show was broadcast on Mnet from July 22 to September 16, 2016. Seven members were selected from ten participants for the debut of the girl group “Momoland.” In 2017, two additional members, Daisy and Taeha, were added to the group. Daisy was also a contestant on “Finding Momoland.” All group members are reportedly leaving MLD Entertainment following the expiration of their contracts.

FROMIS_9 - IDOL SCHOOL

Fromis_9 is a South Korean girl group managed by Pledis Entertainment. Through the reality girl group survival show "Idol School," CJ E&M created fromis_9. There were a total of eleven episodes in the show, which had its premiere on July 13 and ran until September 29, 2017, on the Mnet channel. The show had 41 female trainees who participated as contestants on the show. Only nine of those trainees were chosen to join the girl group fromis_9 as their debut members. The group’s name means “From Idol School.”

KARA - KARA PROJECT

KARA is a veteran K-pop girl group formed by DSP Media in 2007. When Kara’s members Nicole and Jiyoung departed from the group in 2014, DSP Media created the “Kara Project” in order to find new members for the girl group. The program aired from May 27 to July 1, 2014, on MBC Music. Seven trainees from Kara's agency, DSP Media, took part in the competition and went head-to-head. In the final episode, Heo Young-ji won the competition and joined Kara as a new member.

Although fandoms for bands can develop even before their debut through survival shows, it may be challenging for trainees and viewers to follow the entire process. Which method of group debuting—with or without a survival show—do you prefer?