Netflix has unveiled plans for the new competition show We Go High, which will see students from arts high schools in Korea compete to debut in a K-pop girl group.

The contestants will compete on behalf of their schools as well as for themselves, driven by the dream to debut. At present, there is no specific information regarding the activities that will take place on the show, but singing and dancing challenges and performances are expected in line with typical K-pop survival shows.

Auditions are open now until further notice, seeking current first- and second-year students who are studying arts- or broadcast-related subjects at high schools across South Korea. Applications are also open to those hoping to enter an arts high school in 2027.

In official press statements, Netflix has described the show with a focus on passion, ambition, and dreams. This explains why We Go High will be set in arts high schools; those who have enrolled or are hoping to do so have already indicated a strong desire to join the entertainment sphere, the majority having begun preparations independently. Many successful idols, too, have come from notorious art schools. Artists such as TAEMIN, CHAEYOUNG, DAHYUN and TZUYU of TWICE and HUENINGKAI of TXT attended Hanlim Multi Art School, and the School of Performing Arts Seoul saw JUNGKOOK of BTS, HYUNJIN and I.N. of Stray Kids, KAI, DAYOUNG, and more.

At each of these schools, students study core subjects like Maths and Literature but also train according to their chosen specialty, with programs on Theatre, Film, Dance, Music, Stage Arts, Fashion, and Video Production. It is likely that contestants on We Go High will come primarily from Dance and Music courses – these being targeted towards those hoping to become idols – but all students are eligible.

We Go High will be directed by PDs Park Jin Kyung and Lee Jae Seok of entertainment and production company Monstera Haus, who are recognised names with past experience as producers for MBC and Kakao Entertainment. Notably, the resulting girl group that comes out of the program will also involve SM Entertainment; SM C&C, a production subsidiary of the company, is set to collaborate with Netflix in managing the group’s debut and subsequent activities.

This, famously, is not Netflix’s first project associated with the K-pop survival show format. In 2024, following the initial series airing on YouTube, Netflix released a companion documentary titled Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE highlighting the journeys of the members chosen on HYBE and Geffen’s The Debut: Dream Academy. While Netflix did not host the show, they were involved in its virality and believed in its success as a concept. Now, they are creating their own show – and with involvement from SM Entertainment, it seems that other major K-pop companies have also recognised the potential of this format.

Dates for the program’s intended schedule or release have not yet been shared, but further information regarding the application process can be found on the We Go High website.