Stray Kids (Korean: 스트레이 키즈) was a 2017 reality show created by JYP Entertainment and Mnet.

[1] In late July 2017, it was reported that JYP Entertainment (JYPE), was set to premiere a new season of their 2015 reality show Sixteen - which debuted Twice - in the second half of the year.

However, it was revealed the next month that the agency would launch a male idol debut project with a completely different concept from Sixteen.

[5][6] On September 21, JYPE revealed the show's title, Stray Kids, along with its logo and social media channels.

Both teams receive compliments after performing at the trainee showcase, but Park Jin-young ultimately picks the Male Project Team, consisting of members Bang Chan, Kim Woo-jin, Lee Min-ho, Seo Chang-bin, Hwang Hyun-jin, Han Ji-sung, Lee Felix, Kim Seung-min, and Yang Jeong-in, as the winner due to their teamwork.

The first mission is revealed; the nine members of the Male Project Team are challenged to compose their own song, as well as perform it, to determine if they can debut altogether without eliminations.

After the performance, Park praises the song's lyrics, arrangement and melody, but mentions that the key is too high for male singers.

During the second mission evaluation, Hyun-jin's team is first, performing a song titled "4419," which is based on Bang Chan's experiences while riding bus No.

Ji-sung and Woo-jin both receive compliments, though Park points out their lack of stage presence and dancing skills respectively.

A few days after Min-ho's elimination, Park gathers the group for a talk and lesson about things to remember while achieving dreams.

Park reveals the third mission: "JYP vs. YG", a longtime tradition of putting trainees from the two agencies against each other, like the battle in the 2013 Mnet reality television program Win: Who is Next.

Chan, Woo-jin, Ji-sung, and Jeong-in decide to sing Blackpink's "As If It's Your Last," and remix the song to fit Stray Kids' concept.

On the battle day, the team heads to YG Entertainment headquarters where they meet the other agency's trainees for the first time - including Bang Ye-dam from K-pop Star 2.

The YG vocal team performs a remix version of Wonder Girls' "Why So Lonely" and receives high praise overall.

Park criticizes the performances, stating that Chan's vocalization was not stable, Woo-jin could not be recognized as the main vocal and lacks in dancing skill, Hyun-jin's pronunciation was still lacking, and Felix made a dance mistake during "YAYAYA" and his rapping did not stand out because of his difficulty with the Korean language.

The scene then cuts to a week before the recording; Park calls eliminated members Min-ho and Felix back and gives them a second chance to debut with the group.

A nationwide voting is held to help determine if Stray Kids should debut as a seven-member, or nine-member group.

Min-ho and Felix join the group to perform the nine-member version of "Hellevator," "School Life," and a new upbeat song titled "Grrr."

[27][28][29] All nine members of Stray Kids officially debuted in March 2018 with the release of their extended play (EP) titled I Am Not.