(S.M. Entertainment)

S.M. Entertainment announced plans to open an alternative high school called “K-pop International School” in Seoul in September.

The agency, known for a host of high-profile singers and entertainers, said it expects to get approval from authorities in March, paving the way for the launch of the school before a new semester begins here.

Virtual building design for "K-pop international school" (S.M. Entertainment)

The school is said to teach not only typical subjects such Korean, English and mathematics, but also arts-related subjects including music, dance and ballet that will help aspiring future stars prepare themselves.

S.M. Entertainment said it expects 50 to 100 students to enroll in the school in the first year. About 30 percent of students will be Koreans, while 70 percent will be foreign students. At the international school, students are expected to take middle and high school qualification exams for Korea as well as the United States.

(S.M. Entertainment)

The plan for the alternative school comes as many teenagers hoping to be in the next EXO or Girls’ Generation are forced to quit school for often grueling and long-term training programs.

By Jie Ye-eun (yeeunjie@heraldcorp.com)