The Reality Behind the Glamour: K-Pop Idols Open Up About the Dark Side of the Industry
Have you ever been curious about what it takes to become a K-Pop idol? You may have seen their spectacular performances and thought to yourself, “Wow, they’re living the dream!” But, beyond the sparkle and glamour of the K-Pop scene, there is a harsh and hard reality that many fans are unaware of.
Life as a K-pop Trainee
Imagine going to school, working, and exercising all at once, with no breaks, respite, or time for yourself. That is the hard reality of life as a trainee in the K-Pop industry. You’ll be working nonstop to become an idol, whether you’re learning to dance, sing, or rap. And the rivalry is severe, with entertainment businesses employing multiple trainees at the same time, creating a toxic and cutthroat environment.
But it’s not just the pressure to perform that makes life difficult for trainees. It’s also a financial strain. When you become a trainee, the employer spends money on your training and expects you to repay it whether you make it or not. This means that your debt to the firm is growing by the day, trapping you financially.
BTS Taehyung shared how hard it was for him to meet his parents during his trainee period and how many times he thinks to quit.
Idol Life: A Constant Pleasing Career
If you are fortunate enough to make your debut as a K-Pop idol, your labor is far from over. Your followers become your source of cash, and you must constantly satisfy them in order to keep your agency afloat. This includes marketing your songs, acting in K-dramas, embarking on concert tours, and attending fan signs with little to no downtime.
And the pressure is on. Some idols have admitted to going days without sleeping, endangering their health and well-being. And there is always a considerable risk of harm with consistent performances.
BTS Jimin in one of his vlive shared the sad reason for his dieting. He is the most bullied one among the other BTS members because of his chubby physics.
The Sad Reality of Underpaid Labor
K-Pop idols are frequently underpaid, despite the amount of work and effort they put into their craft, particularly during their debut. As previously said, when you sign up as a trainee, you become indebted to your firm, and the majority of your earnings, in the beginning, are used to pay off those debts. Even when you have paid your bills, you may still be taken advantage of financially, with some idols earning only a fraction of what their agencies do.
Yeonwoo, a South Korean singer & actress shared that despite being a member of MOMOLAND for three years, she never received a paycheck from the company.
Prostitution and Abuse
It’s a sad reality, but the K-Pop industry has had its fair share of prostitution and abuse scandals. While we may have heard about cases like Seungri’s, the truth is that female stars have also been victims of these crimes, with some cases being overlooked.
Physical and verbal abuse are also issues, with some producers and businesses resorting to violence and intimidation to achieve their goals. The recent instance of the band East Light serves as a stark reminder of how awful things may get.
In 2019, South Korea’s K-pop industry was rocked by a series of scandals involving some of its biggest stars. Singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young and Seungri, a member of the globally renowned boyband Big Bang, were at the center of overlapping sex and corruption allegations that exposed the dark underbelly of the K-pop world however these scandals quickly snowballed within a week as usual.
The Ultimate Tragedy Is Suicide
The pressures and obligations of idol life can be extremely taxing for these people. Some idols have tragically committed suicide because they were unable to cope with the stress and pressure. It’s terrible to learn that some idols considered death to be their only option.
Jonghyun, a member of the iconic K-pop group SHINee, tragically committed suicide in December 2017 at the age of 27, sending shockwaves throughout the industry. His suicide note, in which he described his chronic depression issues, contributed to the anguish felt by his fans and fellow musicians.
K-Pop may appear to be a world of unicorns and rainbows, but this is far from the case. Many fans may be unaware of the problems, hardships, and struggles that exist in this world. So, the next time you encounter a K-Pop idol, pause before passing judgment. Remember the path they had to walk to get to where they are, and the price they had to pay to make their aspirations come true.
