Kakao Entertainment to air K-pop metaverse survival show 'Re:verse' next month

Teaser images for Kakao Entertainment's ″Re:verse″ [KAKAO ENTERTAINMENT]

Kakao Entertainment will begin airing a K-pop metaverse survival show called “Re:verse” on Nov. 28, the company said Thursday.

The show is likened to a mix of girl group aespa’s alter-ego avatars, Mnet’s hit K-pop survival show franchise “Produce 101” (2016-19) and MBC’s singing competition show “King of Mask Singer” (2015-), in which contestants mask their identity until they have been eliminated.

“Re:verse” centers on 30 girl group members who compete with each other in a metaverse called “W” to grab the chance to form a new virtual K-pop group.

“Contestants will hide their actual identity in the metaverse and only show their dance and singing skills, as well as their charms, through their virtual characters,” Kakao Entertainment said.

Each round will include votes from viewers, which will take place on the Kakao Page app.

“Re:verse” is set to include technology like virtual reality and motion capture technology. When contestants dance or make certain facial expressions, the technology will capture it in real time and broadcast it through the avatar.

Only eliminated players will reveal their actually identity.

Viewers will, however, be able to guess who each contestant is as the show plans on reflecting the actual singers’ characteristics in each of their avatars.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]