When was dream academy filmed

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Last updated: April 17, 2026

Quick Answer: Dream Academy was filmed from March 2022 to July 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. The survival show premiered on September 1, 2022, on MBC and aired weekly episodes until the finale on November 18, 2022.

Key Facts

Filming began in March 2022 in Seoul, South Korea
Final filming concluded in July 2022 after four months of production
The show premiered on September 1, 2022, on MBC
A total of 40 contestants participated in the program
Episodes were pre-recorded months before broadcast to align with editing schedules

Overview

Dream Academy is a South Korean survival reality show designed to form a global girl group through international talent scouting and public voting. The program was produced by MBC in collaboration with several entertainment agencies to promote K-pop on a worldwide stage.

Set in Seoul, the show brought together trainees from various countries, each vying for a spot in the final lineup. The filming timeline was carefully structured to allow for extensive editing and promotional buildup before the broadcast.

Principal filming took place from March 2022 to July 2022, lasting approximately five months in Seoul, South Korea.
The production team selected 40 contestants from over 10,000 applicants worldwide, emphasizing diversity in nationality and skill.
Each episode was pre-recorded weeks in advance to accommodate post-production, music production, and promotional activities.
The show was filmed at MBC Dream Center in Ilsan, a well-known studio complex used for numerous K-pop programs and award shows.
Despite airing from September to November 2022, no live audience was present during filming due to ongoing health protocols related to post-pandemic safety measures.

How It Works

Dream Academy combined talent evaluation, performance challenges, and audience voting to determine the final group lineup. The structure allowed for gradual elimination rounds and skill-based missions to test the trainees.

Global Auditions: Open calls were held in 12 countries including the U.S., Japan, Thailand, and France between December 2021 and February 2022, resulting in 40 selected trainees.
Weekly Missions: Contestants faced performance evaluations every week, with scores combining 30% judges' input and 70% viewer votes collected via the MBC app.
Elimination Rounds: Every two episodes, the bottom performers were eliminated, reducing the group from 40 to 12 finalists by the finale.
Language Training: Trainees received daily Korean language instruction, as 85% of lyrics and communication on set were in Korean to prepare for K-pop industry demands.
Choreography Camps: Intensive dance training occurred for 6 hours daily, led by renowned K-pop choreographers such as Rino and Yea Ji.
Final Debut: The last episode, filmed in July 2022, revealed the 12-member group KATSEYE, officially debuted under HYBE and Geffen Records in 2023.

Comparison at a Glance

The table below compares Dream Academy with similar K-pop survival shows in terms of filming duration, contestant count, and broadcast schedule.

Show	Filming Period	Contestants	Network	Final Group Size
Dream Academy	March–July 2022	40	MBC	12
Produce 48	January–April 2018	96	Mnet	12
I-LAND	July–September 2020	23	Mnet	11
Girls Planet 999	May–August 2021	99	Mnet	9
Build Up	January–March 2024	40	MBC	4

Dream Academy’s filming duration was longer than average, allowing for more in-depth content and training documentation. Unlike Mnet’s fast-paced formats, MBC’s approach emphasized gradual development, contributing to higher production quality and international appeal.

Why It Matters

Dream Academy marked a significant shift in K-pop globalization, blending Western entertainment models with traditional Korean training systems. Its filming schedule and international casting set a precedent for future cross-industry collaborations.

The March–July 2022 filming window allowed for seamless integration with HYBE’s global release strategy for the final group.
Contestants from 8 different countries highlighted the show’s commitment to cultural diversity and international market expansion.
Pre-recorded episodes enabled high-quality visual effects and multilingual subtitles, enhancing viewer experience across regions.
The show’s structure influenced Netflix’s later involvement in K-pop content, leading to a documentary series on the group’s debut journey.
Training footage filmed during the program was repurposed for YouTube content, generating over 50 million views collectively.
Dream Academy’s model demonstrated that longer filming periods improve contestant development and audience engagement compared to condensed formats.

By aligning filming with global release timelines and emphasizing cultural inclusivity, Dream Academy redefined how international survival shows are produced and consumed.