Should the Big 4 focus on recruiting already known influencers (particularity singers/dancers) and models?

General auditions attract far more kpop stans than talent. Many of the best have not even considered joining a kpop group, and would never join a general audition for one (especially for people outside Korea).

Given how visuals are basically a must for new kpop groups, would it save the companies time and money recruiting straight from the best source of visuals: influencers (particularity singers/dancers) and international modeling agencies? This seems better than finding attractive people on the street and asking them to audition (I have heard a lot of stories like that).

The obvious benefit is that many of the most beautiful people in the world are likely already an influencer or model, so if you want the best that's where you should go. They have proven their potential to some extent, have experience in front of cameras, probably already have followers, and are easy to find and contact.

At the end of the process you only want about 4-9 people in the group, so why not aim for the best from the beginning and let the kpop training system do the rest?

Teddy is already doing this. The only known trainee for his next group is a famous model with 4M insta followers, Ella Gross:

Ella G. 🦋 (@ellagross) • Instagram photos and videos

Note: This would only work for the famous companies, since these people already have a successful career and you would be asking some of them to move to Korea and learn a new language (eventually). Early on, to work around the trainees' schedules, the company would hire local trainers to train the trainees in remote consultation with the company's trainers, if they are not nearby. After the remote training period, you have the best 10-20 train at the agency, boot camp style, for about 1 month to see how they perform with each other and their chemistry before making the final decision about the group lineup. Then the members sign group contracts and train at the agency until debut as usual.

Quote from jinaland

but would influencers want to become kpop idol?

Quote from jinaland

also idk if influencers have any good reputation, Dixie, Addison etc released music but didn't go well

That's why it would only work for the big 4. I'm sure plenty, except some of the most famous, would love to be in the next Blackpink. I should note that the only maybe-trainee for Teddy's next group we know so far is Ella Gross, a very famous model. So Teddy is using this approach for some trainees, at least.

4M insta followers:

Ella G. 🦋 (@ellagross) • Instagram photos and videos

Quote from desdesdes

but after some thought, would popular people had the same will as the regular rookie trainee?

I mean, because they already popular, they may don't want to take more effort like training as such.
But regular trainee needs to work hard because they didn't had anything

but they might be popular because they are hard workers.