The first ever 'SM Universe Academy' will begin its first term later this week on March 15, according to business news reports.
Located in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 'SM Universe Academy' is a 3-year academy geared toward rising high schoolers whose aim is to enter the entertainment industry. Students accepted into 'SM Universe Academy' will enroll in the 3-year program as an alternative to regular high school, instead majoring in either producing, vocals, dance, modeling, or acting. As regular high school education courses will not be offered at the academy, students will instead attend regular GED test prep classes.
Each enrolling class will consist of 120 students. 40 out of 120 will consist of vocal majors, while the remaining majors will have 20 students in each class. Tuition for vocal majors is 10 million KRW per term (~ $7,650 USD), and tuition for all other majors is 8.8 million KRW (~ $6,733 USD).
The enrollment will take place in September this year, with an audition process opening some time in July or August.
Meanwhile, 'SM Universe Academy' is managed by Jang Jae Ho, Chief Sales Officer of SM Entertainment.
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Yikes, that sounds ultra sketchy. You're essentially straight-up quitting school to study music/performance, yet you have to carve out time in the day to study all the *essential subjects that you're not getting from schooling* anyway. And you're paying thousands of dollars for it!
I suppose kids from rich families will land on their feet regardless, and I have to presume the vast majority of kids attending will fall under that category. But I would feel terrible for anyone else caught up in this.
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