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The Dark Side Of K-Pop Industry: Everything South Korean has captured the world's attention, from music to film, technology to cuisine. K-pop idol groups are a worldwide phenomenon with millions of devoted admirers. The K-pop scene has exploded in popularity over the past 20 years as artists like BTS and BLACKPINK break down barriers to become successful around the globe.

Underneath the glitz and glamour, the K-pop business is infamous for its fierce competitiveness, a lack of privacy, online bullying, and the constant pressure from the public to uphold a clean image at all times and at any cost, according to AFP. This came into more notice after K-pop star Moonbin, a member of the boy band Astro, died. A spokesperson for the National Police Agency told AFP, the the 25-year-old singer was found dead at his home in southern Seoul.

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As fans mourn the demise of the K-pop star, let us have a look at the dark side of the K-pop industry:

K-POP AND SLAVE LABOUR CONTRACTS

Most contracts call for trainees and K-pop stars to reimburse their management companies for items like the cost of their clothing, housing expenses, and training in singing and dance. K-pop stars might not generate significant money as a result.

Management companies provide prospective K-pop stars, commonly referred to as "trainees," with legally binding contracts. In a particular setting where they are trained by their labels, all the trainees begin by living together. Korean young boys need to learn how to sing properly, dance, speak foreign languages, and many other abilities in order to be ready for their stage debut.

As the name suggests, slave contracts are despicable not only from an economic standpoint but also from a humane standpoint. Even after their time as trainees, K-pop singers are still under the influence of their labels, who frequently standardise them as brilliant and handsome, apparently unmarried (so they may be approachable by fans).

NO DATING CLAUSES

There are steadfast exceptions to the loosening of the dating taboo; as an example, singer HyunA and Pentagon's Dawn were fired from their organisation after publicly admitting their love. They received a lot of support from fans, and PSY-owned label P Nation even signed them, allowing them to continue their careers.

According to The South China Morning Post, K-pop agencies keep male and female trainees carefully segregated to "prevent any danger of the biggest teenage distraction of all, romance, coming in the way of their professional practise."

Rosé, a member of Blackpink, said on the talk show Radio Star in 2017 that male and female trainees weren't even allowed to look at or greet each other, much alone be in the same room. The company that represents Twice and Got7, JYP Entertainment, is well known for upholding a stringent no-dating policy until three years after a singer first becomes well-known.

Here's why K-pop stars are not allowd to date:

Scandals could ruin the K-Pop idol's reputation
It may serve as a distraction from their goal
The company may inadvertently lose money
It may affect the K-Pop idol's mental state
The idol may lose their fanbase

NO PHONES

According to SCMP, numerous K-pop celebrities have asserted that they typically only receive access to their personal phones after winning a song competition. The girl group GFriend said in 2016 on the programme Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend that they received personal phones after winning a music competition.

K-POP SUICIDES

Several young K-pop stars have died by suicide in recent years. Goo Hara, who passed away in 2019, had been mistreated by an ex-boyfriend who blackmailed her via their s*x tapes after they broke up.

The alleged suicide took place a month after Sulli, a K-pop singer who had been struggling with online abuse, killed herself. Sulli's death sparked calls in South Korea for harsher penalties for cybercrimes. Sulli's passing was reminiscent of that of another K-pop artist Jonghyun, who committed suicide in 2017 after struggling with depression.

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Entertainment reporter Kim Dae-O has reported several similar suicides. He stated, "The South Korea’s entertainment industry itself has to bear a lot of the responsibility. It treats celebrities as commodities from whom a few powerful agencies can squeeze as much income in as short a time as possible. Many celebrities are spotted as children and are not taught valuable life skills, only how to sing and dance. The situation is worse for female celebrities, with the public more interested in every salacious detail of their lives."

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