SM Entertainment Announces SM Institute, A Global Arts Education School

SM Entertainment has partnered with Jongro Haneul Education to found SM Institute (SMI), a global arts education facility for training stars.

SMI will offer an educational program with a foundation in the industry knowledge that has made K-pop and K-culture a global phenomenon. The institute will also offer education in various languages — including Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese — for both its local and international students aiming to become global stars.

SM Entertainment affiliate ESteem is also involved in the founding and management of SMI, and will bring to SMI the company’s expertise in model, entertainer, and influencer management as well as fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content, further broadening the scope of stars to be produced by SMI.

After a memorandum of understanding was signed between SM Entertainment and Jongro Haneul Education in 2016, the two companies created a systematic education program and curriculum using SM’s knowhow with regards to celebrity training and content production.

In addition to its offline curriculum, SMI will be using adaptive learning technology, artificial intelligence, and state-of-the-art education technology to offer the best education even during the current times of social distancing, and SMI plans to export Korea’s “ed-tech” solutions as well.

SMI president Choi Jin Young said, “To become a pop culture artist, it takes an immense number of practice hours and practical training. As a result, many trainees give up on their education. SMI will actively use online education and custom educational content and schedules to support students so that they don’t have to give up on their education to become global stars. Further, we will support students so that they can explore various paths with their talents.”

SMI is preparing to open its doors in March 2021, and starting in October 2020, the institute plans to begin accepting applications from students located both in Korea and abroad. SMI also plans to create an international branch to pioneer the “Hallyu wave” of the educational business.

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