South Korea’s Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment, Britain’s Moon&Back Media and L.A.-based gamma. are striking a blow for international pop diplomacy with the creation of boy band dearALICE.

The group was introduced by Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience, a six-part series produced by Kakao, SM and Moon&Back that aired on BBC One, with international distribution by ITV Studios. Over the course of the series, five British boy-band wannabes were put through a 100-day training series at SM. The first product was an album that debuted at #1 on the U.K. 50 Soundtrack Albums chart.

“I've found that it's a superpower in life to embrace the truth of 'I know what I don’t know,'" said gamma. co-founder/CEO Larry Jackson. "I've always been intrigued by the music and culture coming out of South Korea, and to now partner with Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment on dearALICE affords gamma. an opportunity to learn from THE BEST in that culture.”

Joseph Chang, Co-CEO of Kakao and CEO of SM, added, “Our partnership with gamma. represents an exciting step in our ongoing strategy for the successful launch of dearALICE. dearALICE stands out as a truly distinctive project for our company, blending British roots with the global reach and creative influences of Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment.”

The group is currently ramping up plans to release its official debut single under the aegis of gamma., Kakao and SM by the end of the year.

Pictured above (l-r): Russ Lindsay (co-founder, Moon&Back), Jung Min Choi (chief growth officer, SM), Jackson, Chang, Ben Cook (president U.K. & Europe, gamma.), Kevin Nishimura (COO, SM & Kakao)

Pictured at right (l-r): dearALICE's James Sharp, Olly Quinn, Dexter Greenwood, Blaise Noon, Reese Carter