Choi In-gyeong, The Smear, and San-bo finish 2026 Hello Rookie auditions

Vocalist Choi In-gyeong, the band The Smear, and alumni group San-bo concluded the fifth and final round of the 2026 Hello Rookie auditions presented by EBS Space Gonggam. The musicians showcased diverse styles, ranging from ballad-centered compositions inspired by dating shows to the comfortable, tea-time-like resonance of San-bo.

The final stage of the 2026 Hello Rookie auditions has concluded. As the fifth and final round of the auditions presented by EBS Space Gonggam, the musicians on stage faced the audience by revealing their unique musical colors despite the tension.

Inspiration from dating shows: the narrative of vocalist Choi In-gyeong

Choi In-gyeong, the first to take the stage, expressed ambitions to incorporate various sounds centered around ballads. Having harbored a desire to express herself since her days as a music student, she explained that she feels comfortable with the ballad genre due to its tempo, which is similar to a heartbeat. Notably, she mentioned drawing inspiration from dating shows during her songwriting process. She shared that she observes the people in these shows, imagines their endings, and writes these observations down, which then leads to her musical work.

Choi In-gyeong writes her songs by playing the keyboard first and then reading through the lyrics; on stage, she demonstrated her qualities as a vocalist who touches the emotions of listeners with her voice alone. She expressed that it was an honor to be able to deliver her first greeting to the audience through the 2026 Hello Rookie stage.

The Smear: a band embodying the meaning of 'seeping in'

Following her, the band The Smear appeared, a team formed by friends who first met during their third year of high school. Mentioning the meaning of "slowly seeping in" contained in their name, The Smear revealed their musical direction: wanting to seep in naturally rather than overpowering or breaking through the audience. The members showed a strong bond by praising one another's voices.

The Smear is continuing its musical deliberations, such as replacing equipment to achieve a recent change in sound. They shared that they discuss in the rehearsal room how to make their sound blend well, striving to deliver a comfortable energy and sound. In particular, one member performed on stage after recently purchasing a new guitar.

Music like a relaxing tea time: the elegant resonance of San-bo

The band San-bo, who graced the stage last, aims for music that is as comfortable as a tea time with a close friend. The members are composed of alumni from the same school and took the stage while sharing updates on their lives since the previous competition. San-bo greeted the audience with a brighter appearance than during their last performance.

San-bo's music is characterized by leaving intense melodies and lyrics in the heart and ears at the very moment one intends to let them pass gently. The members concluded their stage by reminiscing about the tension of the previous competition with jokes and expressing their hope that their music reaches the audience well.

Source: original video (YouTube)