But if there is fierce competition among these pop idols, it’s not immediately noticeable from the squeaky-clean interviews included; the S.M. artists call themselves brothers and sisters as if they really mean it. Not only do members from the more established acts express their pride and excitement for their younger peers’ breakthrough efforts, the younger ones also praise their predecessors for paving the way for their careers.

It is nevertheless a pity that SMTown: The Stage doesn’t take the opportunity to look into the artists’ more personal thoughts and emotions, let alone their lives outside S.M.’s agenda. So as the Girls’ Generation members weep openly while performing their first single from 2007, Into the New World, at their 2014 Tokyo Dome concert, it’s impossible to tell if the tears were for their ex-member Jessica, who had been forced out of the group just before that.

Behind the K-pop signature of perfectly synchronised dance routines is a cut-throat idol-making system built around auditions for young kids, years of intense training, and the rare opportunities for a lucky few to finally make their debut. None of these is given an earnest look in this documentary, a celebration of the current survivors that gives little thought to all the dreamers who have fallen by the wayside.

SMTown: The Stage opens on November 26