Han Jihoon has dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol his entire life but dreams alone aren't enough. Before he can even think about debuting, he must survive the intense, competitive world of Prime One Entertainment's official training school, Apex Idol Academy. Thrown into a world of brutal evaluations, sleepless nights, vocal drills, dance battles, and emotional highs and lows, Jihoon must learn to fight for his place among dozens of talented trainees each one desperate for the same spotlight. Friendships form, rivalries flare, and the pressure rises. With Coach Yura's unforgiving lessons, Kwon Minjae's rivalry, and the constant fear of elimination hanging over him, Jihoon pushes himself harder than ever. But when trainees are suddenly assigned to write and perform their own original songs, Jihoon discovers that chasing a dream means confronting the parts of himself he's always been afraid to show. In a world where every month can end your future, Jihoon must prove that he's not just another trainee he's someone meant for the stage.

At Seoul Performing Arts Academy, dreams are ranked, friendships are tested, and talent is never enough. Kim Seojin is a quiet trainee with a powerful voice and too many doubts. After passing auditions on his third try, he finds himself inside SPAA a place that promises debut but demands everything in return. Every month brings public rankings. Every mistake risks elimination. And every spotlight exposes more than just talent. Selected for Project CROWN, a pre-debut team monitored by a top entertainment agency, Seojin must compete and coexist with five other trainees, each carrying their own ambitions, fears, and secrets. Rivalry blurs into loyalty. Kindness becomes a weakness. And the line between wanting to debut and needing to survive begins to fade. Under the Spotlight is a character-driven idol survival story about pressure, identity, and what it really costs to be seen.