LABOUM will be adding a new member to the group for their Japanese promotions.

On June 19, Rakuten LIVE announced that they will be holding an audition for the sixth member of the current five-member girl group.

On the same day, LABOUM’s agency NH Media announced, “The new member will only be participating in [LABOUM’s] Japanese activities. The public announcements of the schedule and promotion will take place through ‘Rakuten LIVE.’ By holding an audition for a new member, we will blow energy into [LABOUM’s] full-fledged activities in Japan.”

According to the recruitment overview, requirements include the willingness to sing and dance, having graduated from middle school by March this year, not having signed exclusive contracts with a particular agency, having the consent of a guardian if underaged, being able to travel to Korea for a final screening this summer, and being a female between the ages of 15 and 25.

LABOUM officially started their Japanese activities after signing with Japan’s Columbia Records in November last year, and they will join hands with Rakuten, a large company with 20 million subscribers, to recruit a new member. Pre-registration to participate in the audition is open from June 19 to July 25.

Those who make it through the preliminary round with live videos will have to send over a designated video and participate in the final audition that will be held in Korea from late-August through mid-September. Categories for the audition include singing and dancing.

The members of LABOUM will personally choose their sixth member out of the top five finalists and two other contestants who pass a special criteria.

LABOUM debuted as a six-member group in August 2014. After member Yulhee left, the group was reorganized into a five-member group. It is likely that LABOUM’s next album will include the sixth member that will be selected through the audition.

Sources (1) (2)