[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] "The next step in the globalization of K-pop, led by idol groups, is the global success of singer-songwriters. Now is the time for singer-songwriters to make it onto the Billboard charts."

Singer Lee Seung-chul (59), who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his debut, emphasized in a recent interview with Edaily at the headquarters of his agency, LSC, in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, that for K-pop to take another leap forward, it must nurture not only idol groups but also singer-songwriters with creative capabilities. He stated, “K-pop has captivated the global market by prioritizing visuals and performance. Now is the time for it to be recognized for its musicality and creative capabilities as well,” adding, “K-pop can only grow further if singer-songwriters—who write and perform their own songs—become competitive on the world stage.”
The stage where Lee Seung-cheol brought these ideas to life was ENA’s “The Scout,” which recently concluded. Lee Seung-cheol participated in “The Scout”—billed as a “growth-oriented music project”—from the planning stage, proposing a direction that set it apart from conventional survival audition shows.
“While serving as a judge on ‘Superstar K,’ I keenly realized that performing well in a competition and succeeding as a singer are entirely different matters,” he said. “Rather than a competition focused on ranking contestants and eliminating them, I wanted to create an environment where musicians with potential could truly grow by focusing on nurturing them to their fullest potential.”
Lee Seung-cheol emphasized, “The phrase I repeated most often to the contestants on ‘The Scout’ was, ‘There’s no such thing as elimination in music.’ Didn’t the members of BTS also fulfill their dream of debuting only after going through several agencies? What matters is getting the opportunity to grow until the very end.”
“The Scout” focused on developing artists ready for the real world by providing the 16 participants with comprehensive support for everything needed on stage—including vocal training, physical training, styling, and hair and makeup. The project did not end after the program concluded. Lee Seung-cheol has brought the Top 8 contestants, including winner Lee San, into LSC—the agency where he serves as executive producer—to support their concert and album activities.
In the interview, Lee Seung-cheol also revealed plans for a seasonal format. He said, “In the first season, we discovered male singer-songwriters. In the future, we plan to launch seasons targeting bands and female singer-songwriters,” he said, adding, “We will further enhance the quality of the next season through pre-production.” He continued, “These days, there are many talented young people who not only possess singing and songwriting skills but also have language proficiency on par with native speakers,” and stated, “I want to help them gain recognition in the global market.”
Finally, Lee Seung-chul said, “I believe Korea can produce a global singer-songwriter like Ed Sheeran,” adding, “There aren’t many companies in Korea that specialize in nurturing solo artists, and I want to be a senior artist who can fulfill that role.”