Quick, what do Cha Eun-woo , Twice’s Dahyun and NewJeans ’ Minji have in common? Well, besides being some of the most in-demand K-pop idols currently, these three celebrities – as well as many other familiar names in the South Korean entertainment scene – graduated from the same high school: Hanlim Arts High School. Coincidence? Not quite. Hanlim Arts High School is said to have produced the highest number of K-pop artistes and South Korean celebrities in South Korea – a feat that’s easier to comprehend once you see its curriculum.
As its name suggests, the school is dedicated to the arts and boasts six departments: Entertainment, musical theatre, dance, music, fashion modelling, and filmmaking. Students are put through rigorous courses including songwriting, music theory, movement techniques, catwalking, and more – a far cry from O-Level subjects. CNA Lifestyle recently visited Hanlim Arts High School in the Songpa District and spoke with a few of its students – including two active K-pop idols – to find out what studying there is like.
Meet Kim Seung-mo, 18, and Park Bo-eun, 16, more popularly known by their stage names Seungmo and Boeun. The former is the maknae (youngest member) of the K-pop boy group AMPERS&ONE while the latter is the lead vocalist of the girl group CLASS:y. Both groups are steadily rising in popularity, with AMPERS&ONE even up for the Best New Male Artist award at the upcoming 2024 MAMA Awards – making them the perfect people to give.
