Episode 1 (May 20, 2022)

In the first episode, each of the 30 contestants self selected between wanting become a group leader (group leader contestant) and wanting to become a group member (group member contestant). All contestants and the two team captains performed a personal preliminary stage. The preliminary stage performances took place in two rounds, starting with the group leader contestants followed by the group member contestants.

In Round 1, the group leader contestants decided between themselves the order of performance. After each group leader contestant's performance, each group member contestant and the two team captains could raise their hands to vote for the performer to become a group leader. However, each contestant can only vote for one person. The three performers in Round 1 with the most votes became group leaders for the first public performance.

In Round 2, the group member contestants decided between themselves the order of performance. After all performances were complete, each group member contestant and the two team captains wrote down the names of three contestants who they would like to see as group captains. The three performers in Round 2 with the most votes became group leaders for the first public performance.

After the six group leaders have been decided, team captains must pair with three group leaders each to form their team. First, the two team captains were paired with one group leader each. To do this, each team captain wrote down the name of one group leader who they would want to have on their team, and each group leader wrote down the name of one team captain who they would like to work with. If the names on the team captain and group leader's card corresponds with each other, the pairing is a success. For the rest of the group leaders, the team captains and group leaders discussed between themselves how to split into the two teams.