The K-POP reality survival show 'Re:Born' has premiered in Japan, featuring 12 boy groups competing for a debut opportunity.

The K-POP reality survival 'Re:Born', competing for a formal Japanese debut, has finally opened its curtain. In Japan, it began broadcasting on September 27 on Space Shower TV and ABEMA, and for global fans of the show and participating artists, the world distribution of episode #1 started on the official YouTube channel from September 28 (excluding Japan). It has been viewed not only in Asia, including Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Thailand, but also in America and Europe, causing a stir. At the beginning of the show, a beam of light shines in the darkness. Then, a large gift box wrapped in ribbons appears. The show's MC, Jang Geun-suk, appears and unwraps the ribbon, revealing cards with various messages such as 'Enjoy without regret, and may that joy be conveyed to the viewers' and 'We will show our coolness with a fun feeling.' These are heartfelt thoughts written by each of the 67 members from 12 K-POP boy groups participating in the show. This opening scene was also used in the teaser video released on September 13, where Jang Geun-suk narrated in Japanese. In the main show, he narrates in Korean. Jang Geun-suk shared, 'I have experienced the role of giving a chance to realize dreams in the audition program 'PRODUCE 101'. What I felt then was that everyone's dreams, passion, and sweat, even the small things, are very important, but the fact is that not everyone is given the chance to see the light.' He continued, 'As the name suggests, 'Re:Born'. I think it's not easy to shine in the darkness. Of course, even if they are in a dark place now, if I can help them truly shine brightly, I thought it would be worth trying. I believe everyone participating in this survival is a gem. If polished enough, they can shine even in the darkness, but if I can help those who are the most prepared and can shine the brightest, I want to do my best to help them. And I absolutely believe in the sweat you all shed, so please do your best.' The 12 groups, AIMERS, BeMAX, BXB, DIGNITY, DKB, DXMON, EASTSHINE, E'LAST, L5ST, WAKER, WEUS, and XODIAC, gathered at a studio in the suburbs of Seoul, Korea, to participate in the audition. This was the first time all teams gathered in one place. After introducing each team and greetings, the results of a pre-audience survey created by each group were announced on stage. This survey was conducted by the show to explore the honest feelings of the participating groups about each other. The survey items included 'Best Visual Group', 'Group Heard for the First Time', and 'Awkward Group to Collaborate With', and the results were revealed. If any group was dissatisfied with the results, they were given time to appeal, and groups that did not rank high also promoted themselves, leading to the first exchanges among the teams. Afterward, MC Jang Geun-suk appeared on stage, and the boy group members expressed admiration, saying, 'He's a celebrity!' and 'He's really cool.' Jang Geun-suk explained the overview of 'Re:Born', stating that the winning team would be determined by combining scores from three missions, viewer voting, and benefits through the missions, and that the winning team would secure a formal Japanese debut and concert venue. It was also revealed that the first audition held that day was the 'Final 5 Team Selection Battle'. This evaluation was conducted by Shin Yumi (singer-songwriter), Kim Tae-woo (singer), and Hyojin Choi (choreographer), who would select five groups based on a scoring system of 35 points for performance, 35 points for singing, and 30 points for star quality, totaling 100 points. The group that adorned the first stage of 'Re:Born' was E'LAST. When E'LAST appeared in the center of the stage, MC Jang Geun-suk praised them, saying, 'You all are really cool, and I was wondering if I could stand next to you, but you are so tall and beautiful that I feel nervous even standing next to you.' E'LAST confidently responded, 'As you said, we can say we are a group that combines visuals, skills, and charm. We want to show what we have prepared hard for. Thank you.' When Jang Geun-suk asked, 'But you are strong in performance and visuals, why did you participate in 'Re:Born'?', they replied, 'We debuted during the COVID period, so we couldn't meet our fans or anyone since our debut, and before we knew it, we reached our fifth year of debut without any progress. We received this opportunity to participate in 'Re:Born' and decided to participate without hesitation, united as one. We thought we would aim for the top.' They also shared an episode about climbing to the top of a mountain together. In the audition performance, they showcased 'Thrill', delivering a thrilling performance that impressed the judges. The next episode, airing on October 4 at 22:00, is highly anticipated for the performances and realities that will unfold.