Founded 2003 · 105+ debut artists trained
MEDIA · PRESS COVERAGE
MEDIA · PRESS COVERAGE
Media & Press Featuring JOY DANCE
JOYDANCE MEDIA
JOY DANCE Music Academy — the pre-debut training ground for BTS's J-HOPE and many other artists — has been covered by major media in Korea and abroad. Each report links to the original article and a web archive.
JOY DANCE is a K-POP audition specialist academy founded in Gwangju, Korea in 2003. Since 2005, more than 105 debuted artists have trained here — including J-HOPE (BTS), Gong Minji (2NE1), Goo Hara (KARA), Yunho (TVXQ) and Lee Mijoo (Lovelyz). This track record has been documented by outlets at home and abroad, from the U.S. GRAMMY.com and Japan's TBS to the JoongAng Ilbo, Hankyung and The Fact. J-HOPE's story is detailed in "The Dance Academy BTS's J-HOPE Attended".
LATEST · SEP 2026
Latest Coverage
Japan · KBS Japan MOU
edaily · NAVER Entertainment
Korean press reported that KBS Japan, Japan's leading Korean-wave broadcast and media platform, signed a K-pop talent development MOU with JOY DANCE Japan (JOY DANCE Tokyo & Osaka, reported as "Joy Japan Academy"). The agreement covers a KBS World original K-pop audition program, a global survival format and K-culture documentary, regular performance content for broadcast and digital, live stage support and a jointly developed premium K-pop dance class.
"An opportunity to organically connect a verified pool of professional talent with the broadcaster's original IP planning capability." — Kim Hyung-won, CEO of KBS Japan
OVERSEAS · BROADCAST
Overseas & Broadcast
US GRAMMY
GRAMMY.com
The GRAMMYs' official outlet covered BTS J-HOPE's docuseries 〈Hope on the Street Vol.1〉, noting that he enrolled in Gwangju's Joy Dance Academy in the sixth grade and trained there for six years, from ages 10 to 16.
"By the sixth grade… enrolling him in Gwangju's Joy Dance Academy." — GRAMMY.com
Japan · Kodansha
mi-mollet
An outlet run by Japan's Kodansha introduced the academy as 'JOY DANCE & PLUG IN MUSIC ACADEMY' in a Gwangju 'K-POP pilgrimage' feature.
DOMESTIC PRESS
Korean Press
The FactNEWS
The Fact
In its 'BTS History — J-HOPE' feature, the academy was introduced as 'JOY DANCE PLUG IN MUSIC ACADEMY', and CEO Park Dae-hong was interviewed as the place that produced 2NE1's Gong Minji, KARA's Goo Hara and others.
Jeonnam
MaeilNEWS
MaeilNEWS
Jeonnam Maeil
In an exclusive interview with CEO Park Dae-hong, JOY DANCE was described as opening in Gwangju in 2003 with 7 branches nationwide, around 100 instructors and about 1,500 students, having produced J-HOPE, TVXQ's Yunho, Gong Minji, LADIES' CODE's Juny, Goo Hara, EXID's Hyerin and more.
JoongAngNEWS
JoongAng Ilbo
In a Gwangju city-tour trail article, 'Joy Dance Academy' was introduced as a leading music academy around Chungjang-ro that produced J-HOPE, Goo Hara and others, reporting over 400 students.
HankyungNEWS
Hankyung
In 'BTS Tour Gwangju — J-HOPE's Hometown Journey', JOY DANCE was mentioned in connection with J-HOPE's upbringing.
OhmyNewsNEWS
OhmyNews
In '2021 Person of the Year — Meeting BTS the Human', the academy was mentioned in relation to J-HOPE's background.
Segye
IlboNEWS
IlboNEWS
Segye Ilbo
In an article on the release of J-HOPE's childhood dance footage, JOY DANCE was mentioned.
CNB NewsNEWS
CNB News
In an article on a Gwangju fam tour, JOY DANCE was mentioned as the academy that produced J-HOPE, Goo Hara and others.
ARCHIVE
Archive & Earlier Coverage
FN News2013
Financial News
An interview feature introducing 'the JOY Academy that taught BIGBANG, 2NE1 and KARA', covering its early track record.
Woman
Chosun2014
Chosun2014
Woman Chosun
An article introducing the academy under its then-name, 'JOY DANCE & PLUG IN MUSIC'.
MK Star
Today2018
Today2018
Maeil Business Star Today
Reported JOY DANCE's participation in 'Dancer', a joint content project by AfreecaTV and Welmade Yedang.
Joynews242012
Joynews24
An EXID interview that confirms member Hyerin's JOY DANCE background.