ENA Announces ‘MYSTIC’ Audition Series With Nicole, Sandara Park and Xiaoting

South Korean broadcaster ENA has confirmed the November 17 premiere of MYSTIC: Sculpting Tomorrow’s Star, a new international music audition series featuring 21 aspiring performers from Korea and China.

The program will air Tuesdays at 11:20 p.m. KST, with KARA’s Nicole, 2NE1’s Sandara Park and Kep1er’s Xiaoting serving as its three hosts.

Representing the second and fourth generations of K-pop, the trio will guide contestants through a survival competition focused on musical ability, performance and artistic development.

Unlike an audition limited to established trainees, MYSTIC will feature participants from a variety of backgrounds. ENA says the lineup includes active girl-group members, office workers and a former taekwondo athlete, all selected through a highly competitive application process.

The broadcaster also plans to explore the personal experiences behind the contestants’ ambitions, including struggles with stage fright, appearance-related insecurities and bullying.

Supporting the participants is an eight-member judging and mentoring panel known as the Star Makers.

The lineup consists of Big Mama’s Lee Young-hyun, 2AM’s Jo Kwon, PENTAGON’s Hui, WINNER’s Kang Seung-yoon, EXID’s Solji, former GFRIEND member Yuju, singer Zhang Liyin and Sunny Lucas.

Their roles will combine performance evaluation with mentorship, drawing on experience in singing, songwriting, production and live performance.

According to ENA’s announcement, an initial blind-test recording has already taken place, allowing the hosts and judges to evaluate the participants before the series begins airing.

The production team is positioning MYSTIC as a competition about both discovering new talent and following the personal growth of performers working toward a professional music career.

Although ENA has confirmed the format, broadcast schedule and judging lineup, the announcement does not establish a final winning lineup or confirm the formation of a permanent debut group.

MYSTIC: Sculpting Tomorrow’s Star premieres Tuesday, November 17, at 11:20 p.m. KST on ENA.