10 Dark Realities of the South Korean Pop Culture

South Korea is known for many things around the world. From being one of the most technologically
advanced countries in the world, exotic spicy foods, huge drinking culture, studious and workaholic
youth, beauty and skincare products, leading plastic surgery industry, StarCraft, to the infamous K-
Pop with a rapidly growing fan base.

In recent times, through the reach of second largest search engine YouTube, K-Pop and the Hallyu
Wave are at their all-time high. K-Pop started in 1996 with rival boy groups H.O.T and Sechs Kies and
girl groups S.E.S and Baby V.O.X before being picked up and evolved into what we know today.

However, as it comes, behind all the funky clothing, flawless makeup, intricate choreographies and
eye-catching concepts lie deep, dark realities.

1. Wasted Youth

At one point or another, everyone has fantasied about becoming a K-Pop idol. After all, they seem to
fit the convectional idea of beauty fairly well with their beauty and charm. They are portrayed as
youthful young adults that are made to be idolised by their young fan base, hence the word ‘Idol’.

However, these idols are often brought into the companies at a very young age, often eleven years
old and from there on, they go through vigorous training in all kinds of categories from singing,
rapping, dancing to variety and public speaking skills and even foreign languages such as Japanese
and Mandarin. It is during this time that a certain image is formed for these teenagers to portray in
front of hundreds of fans. These images often affect these idols, rendering them unable to
distinguish themselves from the persona they portrayed on screen and how they were in real life.
[https://www.soompi.com/2015/08/21/hyuna-opens-up-about-being-criticized-for-her-sexy-
concepts/] [http://www.koreaboo.com/buzz/got7s-jackson-discusses-serious-side-recent-
interview/]

Due to such young age during their trainee times and seeing their fellow trainees’ debut while
themselves being delayed, it forms a sense of insecurity among them. Many ex-trainees and idols
have been reported talking about their time as trainees where their looks and abilities would be
rated and called out in front of everyone, affecting them emotionally.
[http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/6877/snsds-jessica-talks-about-her-slump-and-
difficult-trainee-days] [http://www.worldofbuzz.com/ex-snsd-trainee-reveals-ugly-truth-kpop-
korean-entertainment-industry/]

During this time, trainees are typically asked to live in dormitories with fellow trainees where their
management agencies control their diets, love lives and their behaviour and private lives. Currently,
the longest period of years spent as a trainee is fifteen years which were spent by R&B singer, G.Soul
under JYP Entertainment before making his debut in 2015. There are many other artists who spent
up to ten years training. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/07/gsoul-talks-about-training-for-
15-years-performs-on-sketchbook]
 2. Sasaeng Fans

Literally meaning ‘Private Life’, Sasaeng fans are known widely in South Korean culture for their
intrusion and exploitation of their victim’s private life. These are often young girls who have given up
school to become full-time Sasaengs. In an estimate by celebrity managers to the media, popular
Korean celebrities have up to 1,000 Sasaeng fans that actively follow them every day and crowd their
label agencies and dormitory buildings, often spending nights camping outside.
[https://sg.style.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/sasaeng-groupies-gone-wild-part-1-k-fans-
141105992.html]

Sasaeng fans are known for their stalker-like behaviour when it comes to seeking attention and
recognition from their favourite idols and often go extreme lengths to achieve that goal, often
negative. There are accounts of these obsessed fans going out of their way to put their idol’s life in
danger.

The Sasaeng fans of DBSK and JYJ, in particular, are notorious for the extreme lengths they went in
order to be recognised by their idols. Yoo-Chun of JYJ, previously DBSK, has had his privacy intruded
when CCTV cameras were installed in the parking lot of his home and has also been slapped by
another fan. Other members of JYJ, Jun-Su and Jae-Woong have had their fair share of Sasaengs as
well, with both of them being under constant surveillance by Sasaengs, whether they were at their
dormitory or out for dinner. There have also been reports of Sasaengs saving their menstrual blood
and delivering it to the members. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/07/sasaeng-fans-install-
cctv-in-the-parking-lot-of-park-yoochuns-home] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/03/video-of-
jyjs-park-yoochun-being-assaulted-by-a-sasaeng-fan-revealed-online]
[https://www.soompi.com/2012/03/07/scary-photo-of-jyjs-junsu-and-sasaeng-fans/]

As Sasaengs are known for their stalking skills, they are known for breaking into idols’ dorms and
hotel rooms, along with chasing their cars in taxis. The chases are so prevalent in South Korea that a
lot of taxi drivers offer deals for following idols and Sasaengs who aren’t able to cover the cost of the
ride, offer their bodies as payment. Members of Super Junior, EXO, JYJ and CNBLUE have had their
homes broken into, where the fans stole their belongings and also went as far as to kissing one of
them. In one famous case, members of FT Island had their dormitory broken in, belongings stolen
and excrement left behind. Members of Super Junior, Big Bang and EXO have known to be chased in
taxis, leading to accidents. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/06/luhan-gets-into-a-verbal-
altercation-with-a-taxi-driver-taking-sasaengs-around]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/03/reporters-uncover-the-dark-truth-behind-the-daily-
activities-of-sasaeng-fans] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QEDhh89ZLs]

Former member of Girls’ Generation, Jessica has also shared an account of being followed by a
strange man up to her dormitory where she safely entered while the man was left pulling at the
doorknob. In another famous case, Taec-Yeon of 2PM received a letter from one such fan written
with her own menstrual blood and pubic hairs. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2009/11/2pm-
taecyeon-scarlet-letter] [https://www.soompi.com/2012/10/29/8-celebrities-and-their-sasaeng-fan-
incidents/7/]
 3. Anti-Fans

Following Sasaeng fans are the anti-fans with their difference been that while Sasaengs are obsessed
with idols and would do anything to get their attention, anti-fans are known to hate certain idols,
often rival groups of their favourite idols, and would go long lengths to bring tarnish their reputation
or even go as far as physically harming them.

Where there is a huge fan-base, such as one as big as the fan-base of DBSK called Cassiopeia, there
are bound to be haters and anti-fans. In what is one of the most notorious case of anti-fan attacks,
member of DBSK, Yun-Ho, was given a drink by a fan which he believed to be was orange juice.
However, once he drank it, it was discovered that the liquid contained glue and the singer began to
feel sick and vomited before he was rushed to the ER where his stomach was pumped and he was
hospitalised. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/02/tvxqs-yunho-finally-talks-about-being-
poisoned-by-an-anti]

Another such case was when member Yoon Kye-Sang of g.o.d was handed a poisoned drink by an
anti-fan which he passed to his mother, oblivious to the truth. His mother fell violently ill and had to
be taken to the hospital to have her stomach pumped. Former member of Super Junior, Han-Geng
had also received a box of cake which continued bags of blood, knife and a stabbed picture of him.
The cake was also confirmed to contain poison as form of powder.
[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/02/21/2008022161012.html]
[http://www.koreaboo.com/buzz/10-times-antifans-attempted-to-injure-or-kill-idols/]

Members of Baby V.O.X also received a share of the anti-fans when Kan Mi-Yeon was rumoured to
be dating H.O.T’s Moon Hee-Jun which led to antis sending her death threats and razor blades while
another anti-fan squirted a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce directly into member Yoon Eun-Hye’s
eye, damaging her cornea and forcing her to wear an eye patch for later activities.
[http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2831901]

In one extreme case, former member of 2PM, Jay Park, born Park Jae-Beom, was targeted by anti-
fans when they created a petition that called for his suicide, called ‘Jae-Beom should commit suicide’
which managed to garner over 3,000 signatures before it was finally take down.

Outside K-Pop, veteran Trot singer, Na Hun-A was attacked by an anti-fan while performing on stage
and was slashed by the anti on his cheek by a knife, leaving a prominent scar. Actress Do Ji-Won was
kidnapped by a man and woman who threatened her with a knife and stuffed her in the trunk of a
car for five hours, only letting her go after extorting ₩14 million from her. Another actress, Kang
Eun-Bi also suffered from depression after anti-fans stalked and harassed her and her family,
throwing milk, eggs and tissues at her, causing her to attempt suicide several times.
[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/02/21/2008022161012.html]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2009/08/kang-eunbi-suicide-attempt]

In recent years, the number of threats against K-Pop idols has been increasing. From members of
boy group BTS, particularly Ji-Min and Rap Monster, receiving death threats, Mina of girl group
TWICE and to the members of Apink. In June 2017, Apink received a bomb threat at their comeback
showcase which led to the evacuation of the building.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/03/big-hit-entertainment-responds-to-death-threats-against-
bts-jimin] [http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/221171/20150717/bts-ny-concert-rap-monster-
death-threat.htm] [https://www.soompi.com/2017/06/13/jyp-take-legal-action-ilbe-user-made-
death-threats-twices-mina/] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/06/police-dispatched-to-apinks-
agency-after-receiving-death-threats] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/06/police-evacuate-
150-fans-at-kbs2s-music-bank-after-bomb-threat-linked-to-a-pinks-previous-bomb-threat]

4. Bullying

Bullying has been a widespread topic in the K-Pop world. The word bullying is used to refer to two
situations in K-Pop world. Either the idol in question has bullied someone in the past, mainly during
their school days or when there is a case of bullying between group members. To this day, there
have been dozens of idols who have been accused of bullying, whether it was backed with
substantial evidence or not. Nonetheless, it is something that may never cease to exist as it is a tactic
used by anti-fans to bring their victims down. However, on the other hand, there have been two
widely known cases of bullying between group members.
[http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.com/2014/05/kahi-reveals-bullying-in-girl-groups-is.html]

Famous girl group, T-ara, was brought under fire for the bullying of member Hwa-Young by other
members. When the bullying controversy got out of hand, Core Contents Media abruptly announced
Hwa-Young's immediate departure in 2012, which further fuelled the flames. This controversy
greatly affected their fame and the matter was not resolved until 2017 when it was discussed again
by Hwa-Young and her twin sister, Hyo-Young. This led to T-ara’s staff members to come out with
evidence pointing to the fact that the members weren’t bullying Hwa-Young, rather it was she
herself who bullied other members with her sister and faked her injury to gain sympathy. Hwa-
Young initially tried to deny the rumours, lashing out at the staffers in return, but eventually
admitted that the texts were real, leading to an intense backlash and being removed from several
television shows. [https://www.soompi.com/2012/07/31/complete-list-of-t-aras-alleged-bullying-
incidents-with-hwayoung/] [https://www.soompi.com/2017/02/08/former-t-ara-staff-member-cant-
watch-hwayoung-play-victim-tells-bullying-scandal/]

Another case of intense bullying came from the ‘90’s when co-ed group comprising of two males and
two females, S#arp was created. Member Seo Ji-Young’s family, a prominent family in the
entertainment industry, spent a lot of money and created the group S#arp. Due to their debut album
having a lot of high notes, Lee Ji-Hye was made the main vocal. This started the four yearlong
bullying of Ji-Hye by Ji-Young, who appeared to be jealous of her position and the inability to have
things her way as she originally wanted to put her own friends into the group.
[http://kpopselca.com/forum/k-pop/legendary-bullying-incident-of-s-arp-t34320/]
[https://www.soompi.com/2017/05/07/lee-ji-hye-tearfully-recalls-time-got-bullied-sarp/]
[http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/01/pannbullying-scandal-of-90s-sarp.html]

The bullying and threatening led until their disbandment, where Ji-Young used media-play and held a
press conference where their manager famously revealed everything that had happened behind the
scenes. The press conference video is considered by some to be the most dramatic video ever in the
entertainment industry. Despite claiming to be friends again, Ji-Young was seen visiting Ji-Hye, who
was hospitalised after vigorous solo debut training, with chrysanthemum flowers, which are flowers
for the dead in South Korea. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLciKUxVTsU]

5. Slave Contracts

Following long trainee periods are the infamous ‘Slave Contracts’. In short, slave contracts are unfair,
long-term contract between K-pop idols and their management agencies. These slave contracts, in
early 2000s, ranged from 10 to 13 years. If a trainee joined an agency with a thirteen year contract
and trained for ten years, their contracted years wouldn’t start until after their debut.
[http://mengnews.joins.com/view.aspx?aId=2996232]
[http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2014/12/135_169279.html]

Slave contracts remained until three members of boy group DBSK took their management agency,
S.M Entertainment, to court in 2009, over the 13 year contract as it was too long and restrictive
while they also did not receive any major profits from their success. Recently, South Korea's Fair
Trade Commission created a rule that limited entertainment contracts to seven years and reformed
unfair contract clauses. S.M Entertainment is widely called out for its unfair and often inhumane
treatment of its talents. One example is the former Super Junior member Han Geng who publically
spoke against the company’s human right violations and forcing him to take part in activities that he
didn’t want to by threatening him with fines and court. He and fellow member Choi Si-Won were
also denied to rest after their fell sick two hours before an awards event and were forced to perform
the next day. Han Geng also stated that he couldn’t take sick leave nor return to China to visit his
family. [http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/08/178_49459.html]
[https://www.soompi.com/2017/03/07/8-major-entertainment-companies-face-reforms-unfair-
contract-clauses/][http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/09/hangeng-left-super-junior-because-of]
[https://www.dramafever.com/news/hangeng-speaks-out-on-sm-entertainment-human-rights-
violations/] [https://smtownjjang.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/hangeng-speaks-out-on-sm-
entertainment-human-rights-violations/]

In recent year, former members of EXO-M, Kris, Lu Han and Tao have one by one left the group,
citing various reasons against S.M Entertainment such as finding it difficult being far away from
family, deteriorating health and not enough rest as well as injuries upon injuries for Tao, who was
also not given proper rest and treatment.
[http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/search1/2603000000.html?cid=AEN20140515006800315]
[http://www.hollywoodtake.com/luhans-reason-leaving-exo-shocking-k-pop-star-slams-sm-
entertainments-treatment-chinese-62984] [https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/10/10/exo-
member-luhan-files-lawsuit-to-leave-k-pop-group/]
[http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/search1/2603000000.html?cid=AEN20140515006800315]
[http://www.vcpost.com/articles/96009/20151002/exo-former-exo-member-tao-sm-
entertainment.htm] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/08/tao-files-lawsuit-against-sm-for-the-
nullification-of-his-exclusive-contract] [http://www.koreaboo.com/news/exo-m-taos-leg-injury-
revealed-to-have-gotten-worse-after-comeback-stage-performance/]
 6. Payment

K-Pop Idols garner a lot of revenue for their label companies, but only when they hit the target and
have a successful debut. Companies train their talents for years, feeding and paying for all the fees
as a form of investment in their trainees. In 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported that the cost of
training one Korean pop idol under S.M. Entertainment averaged US$3 million. However, in return,
the trainees must return all profits to them [cost of training, promotion, coordinators, production
and comebacks] and it is after then that they finally begin to make money. Often it takes idols up to
three years after their debut before they’re given their first pay check.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/02/aoa-got-paid-for-the-first-time-in-three-years]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/01/breaking-block-b-sues-stardom-asks-for-exclusive-
contract-to-be-nullified]

The ‘Big 3’ of K-Pop labels; S.M, JYP and YG are known for sharing their profit to their talents from
the start and that is because their names alone can generate income making them the top money
makers among companies. However, other companies are not similar. Most companies do not pay
their talents until they have reached their ‘break even’ where they become popular with the media.

Then is the concept of equal pay amongst idol groups, the method used by JYP and Cube
Entertainment. For the most part, idols will equally distribute their income for at least half of the
duration of their contracts. During the first half of their contracts, the members are obligated to
share their income equally, even if one member takes part in many individual activities. However, in
the second half, they usually get to keep to themselves. This decreases the amount of money earned
by each individual member as K-Pop groups range from four to up to ten members, with some
groups with even more number of members. [http://seoulbeats.com/2012/06/how-splitting-money-
could-split-a-group/]

In the end, it is a two faced dagger. Whether the pay is split equally amongst members despite one
individual’s hard work, there are feelings of unfairness. On the other hand, if they get to keep their
own pay, members with less individual work may find it unfair, leading to tensions between the
group, which may lead up to disbandment.

7. More Than Just Pretty Faces

K-Pop Idols are known for their extraordinary visuals and portray the convectional idea of beauty in
South Korea very well. This is highlighted by the fact that every group has its own visual or face of
the group. While they are already very pretty, many of these idols are told to receive plastic surgery.
The typical beauty standards of Korea including slim noses, large, double-lidded eyes, and ‘V’ shaped
jaws seemed to have become a job requirement despite many idols may not openly talk about it.

South Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgery in the world and plastic surgery is normal, starting
from students in middle school. In South Korea, getting your eyes and nose done are called the
‘basics’. This prevalence of plastic surgery and the single ideal beauty standard has shed away their
natural unique beauty and led to a league of similar innocent-looking, girlish looks.
[http://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-is-the-plastic-surgery-capital-of-the-world-2015-9]
In addition to plastic surgery, there are many other ways idols are expected to alter their looks and
one of them is losing weight. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle and body is something we should
strive for, Korean beauty standards go beyond that and there have been several accounts of fat-
shaming that K-Pop Idols go through. These criticisms are made to face and are often taken by idols
to heart, resulting in a damaging weight loss. [http://www.koreaboo.com/buzz/15-year-old-pristin-
member-called-fat-and-bullied-by-fans/]

One case that comes to mind is of YG’s boy group Big Bang’s member T.O.P, who was once
overweight. But due to his desire to enter the K-Pop Industry and the strict instructions by the CEO
Yang Hyun-Suk, T.O.P dropped up to 20kg in 40 days and following that, he was immediately
recruited into the label. Before debuts or comebacks, idols are said to usually eat mainly leeks and
some vegetables in order to be as skinny as possible before they face their fans, with some female
idols reportedly voicing out that they often do not eat before they’re set to grace the stage.
[http://www.koreaboo.com/lists/12-idols-attempted-dangerous-starvation-diets/]

In 2011, a trio of plump females debuted as ‘Piggy Dolls’ who outwardly made fun of themselves
before anyone else could yet promoted the idea of body acceptance in their lyrics. There was
backlash for several reasons with some citing them as unattractive due to their weight while others
criticising their weight to be a selling point. However, only a few months later, the girls made a
comeback with a major change. All three of them had gone through dramatic weight loss, which
proved that K-Pop world’s shallow and one-minded perception seems to be, in fact, what was
ultimately sought. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/01/new-girl-group-piggy-dolls-debuts-
with-trend] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/01/netizens-transfixed-by-piggy-dolls-pre-debut-
performance-videos] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/04/piggy-dolls-reveal-that-theyre-
being-pressured-to-lose-weight] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/09/piggy-dolls-talk-briefly-
about-their-diet]

In addition to plastic surgery and weight loss, there are idols that have been dragged for their darker
skin tones. The concept of ‘white-washing’ in very prevalent and is used by fans on photos by
professional photographers who discover their photos altered, using various methods to lighten the
skin tone. However, it is not only the media or ‘Netizens’ who call out these idols, often times, it is
their own group members who point out their dark skins in demeaning manners, whether they truly
mean it or not, proving the mind-set equalising white skin as beautiful and dark skin as dirty. This
was recently showcased when members of TWICE appeared on variety show ‘Knowing Brothers’
where member Da-Hyun was selected, due to her pale skin, as the member who showers the longest
while member Tzu-Yu, who has darker skin, was portrayed with the caption: The member who
doesn’t shower the most is Tzu-Yu? [http://www.koreaboo.com/news/fans-outraged-by-idol-
whitewashing-controversy/] [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkRmr4mWgAA-Tvb.jpg]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/03/aoa-seolhyuns-dark-complexion-becomes-a-topic-of-
debate-for-netizens] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/07/baps-daehyun-lightens-his-selfie-
after-netizens-criticize-his-dark-skin] [https://onehallyu.com/topic/160726-compilation-of-exo-dark-
skin-comments/]

8. Machines
When we think about K-Pop Idols and Machines, the first thing that comes in mind is the best dancer
of a different group, nicknamed ‘Dancing Machines’ for their amazing and versatile dancing skills,
such as Lee Tae-Min of SHINee. However, every Korean idol is a machine in one way or another, with
each company holding specific behaviour and imagery, taking away their individuality and
uniqueness. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/02/jay-park-talks-about-trainees-getting-hit-
when-they-made-mistakes-his-past-myspace-controversy]

Idols are manufactured, packed and sold to the media, with different images and concepts every
year. These images and concepts often do not represent the idols as themselves. The most common
concept used is ‘Aegyo’ or ‘Cute’, followed by sexy concept which is used widely to garner attention
through buzz, especially during first few years of groups from smaller companies. An example is the
girl group Stellar, which debuted in 2011 with a funky style without any interest from media. That
was until they came back in 2014 with a sexy concept that launched them into spotlight due to the
erotic nature of their outfits, choreography, and music video.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/07/stellar-honestly-open-up-about-why-they-had-no-choice-
but-to-go-the-sexy-route]

The genre of K-Pop is not authentic with everything from public images, music videos; dances and
promotions are handled solely by their label companies. Dances are rehearsed for months to
perfection, music videos and promotions are carefully crafted while the images and personas are
taught throughout their trainee years. The idols are completely manufactured, and their content
undoubtedly so as well, leaving them as nothing but machines being programed to work according
to what their owners’ desires.

9. Abuse

Abuse is a sensitive topic to discuss, even in countries where victims are supported to come out and
speak against those who have done wrong to them. However, South Korea is a highly conservative
society and values their public image, leading to those who suffer from abuse, especially sexual
abuse to bottle it inside to avoid society’s stigma.

Whether it is corporal punishments or sexual abuse, or even sexual favours, all of them are highly
prevalent in K-Pop, often tucked away in the dark corners of the industry. In recent years, many
cases where ex-trainees share such experiences have been coming into light.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/02/jay-park-talks-about-trainees-getting-hit-when-they-
made-mistakes-his-past-myspace-controversy]

By far the most well-known case is about Jang Seok-Woo, the CEO of Open World Entertainment,
who was arrested in 2012 under suspicion that not only was he sexually abusing female trainees,
many of whom minors, after providing them with beer mixed with aphrodisiacs but also coercing
male idols, who were also minors at the time, signed to his agency to do so as well. He was later
sentence to six year for habitual sexual harassment, assault and rape of his singers and trainees.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/04/open-world-entertainment-ceo-arrested-for-alleged-
sexual-harassment-on-artists-and-trainees] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/04/police-
investigate-reports-of-open-world-ceo-allegedly-forcing-male-idol-group-members-to-sexually-
harrass-female-trainees] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/08/open-world-entertainment-ceo-
sentenced-to-6-years-in-prison] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/11/open-world-
entertainment-ceo-jang-suk-woo-pleads-guilty-to-sexual-assault-charges-during-appeals-hearing]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/06/open-world-entertainment-ceo-jang-suk-woos-six-year-
jail-sentence-for-sexual-assault-finalized]

Famous ballad singer, Baek Ji-Young was part of one such controversy when she was a minor. In
2000, a sex tape that featured Ji-Young and her manager at the time, Kim Shi-Won also known as
Kim Seok-Jin, was leaked on the internet. The video was revealed to have been filmed without Ji-
Young’s knowledge and later used to threaten her when she attempted to change her contracted
manager at the peak of her career. The manager fled to the U.S. and is currently serving time in jail
for charges of sex with a minor which he also recorded.
[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2000/11/29/2000112961554.html]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185711/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2
010/12/113_31751.html]

Sexual favours are found in various companies where brokers would be given profiles of different
female trainees as well as female students attending art schools around Seoul. The broker would
offer approximately 220USD per meeting to sponsors. Sponsors would be charged from 700 to
900USD if they wanted to meet young females or trainees from prominent agencies. A sponsor must
make a reservation at least a day ahead, and only those that are already on broker’s customer list
can get a meeting. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/03/shocking-details-on-pay-abortion-and-
more-of-celebrity-sponsor-contracts-revealed]

Sexual abuse of male trainees is not unheard of as well. Several male ex-trainees have come out to
reveal sexual acts they were forced to perform and the sexual abuse they suffered from their
company CEO. Such issues became highlighted when an unnamed individual was charged with
sexual harassment and rape and sentenced.
[http://koreaboo.tumblr.com/post/98011332508/report-interview-with-male-ex-trainee-who-was]

In addition to fear of having their identities disclosed to the public, many of these trainees, whether
male or female, are afraid of standing up against their companies in fear of being let go by the
company and shattering their dreams of becoming a K-Pop Idol. It isn’t farfetched to think that these
young trainees may be blackmailed to keep quiet.

Outside K-Pop and in Korean Entertainment is the famous case of actress Jang Ja-Yeon who
committed suicide and her death caused a national scandal when it was revealed that she had been
both physically and sexually abused by several program directors, CEOs and media executives during
her career. She left behind a 7-page note listing at least 31 names of media executives, CEOs, and
directors that she claimed she was forced into having sex with.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/03/sbs-reports-jang-jayeons-revealing-document-hosted-31-
customers-over-100-times]

10. Suicide and Depression

Lastly, we have the heavy topic of depression and the resulting suicide. South Korea is a small
country but has the second highest rate of suicide according to World Health Organization, as well as
the highest suicide rate for an OECD member state. Suicide in South Korea is a serious and
widespread worry as depression and other mental conditions form a social stigma, causing further
sense of loneliness in those who suffer from such conditions. And so, the Korean entertainment
industry has also seen many heart-breaking cases of suicide where young singers, models and actors
have given in to their depression. [http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150830000310]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/01/idols-you-may-not-have-known-who-suffered-from-
extreme-depression-and-anxiety]

Singer U;Nee was one such victim who was marketed as a sexy singer by her record company
starting 2005 single as she underwent several plastic surgeries which led to harsh criticism by
Netizens. Two years later, U;Nee was found hanged in her home, having committed suicide at the
age of 25. It was confirmed by her mother that she suffered from bouts of depression, medication,
problems dealing with fame and the pressure that came with it and also her own personal problems.
There was no suicide note, but she did write that she felt lonely on a Web site: I feel everything is
empty. I am again walking down a path to reach a destination that I don't know.
[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/01/22/2007012261006.html]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2008/01/remembering-unee]

Korean actor and singer, Park Yong-Ha, was widely famous in both Korea and Japan for his acting
and singing. In 2010, at the age of 32, Yong-Ha was found dead in his home by his mother. It was
later revealed that he was under pressure managing his entertainment company, career and coping
with his father’s cancer. Another singer-actor, Choi Jin-Young, also ended his life in 2010 at the age
of 39. His friends revealed that he had attempted suicide previously as well and was suffering from
depression due to his sister, Choi Jin-Sil’s death who had also committed suicide.
[http://www.bbc.com/news/10459061]
[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/01/2010070101116.html]
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2010/03/choi-jin-shils-brother-choi-jin-young-found-dead]
[http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2918568]
[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/03/30/2010033000579.html]

Choi Jin-Sil was a famous South Korean actress, who suffered through various incidents throughout
her life up to her death. After her marriage to Cho Sung-Min, her husband committed a breach of
marital fidelity, violence and defamation against Choi for about two years from 2002 to 2004 and
also borrowed money from her family as he defaulted on the debt. In 2002, she was physically
attacked by Sung-Min while she was pregnant with their second child and was later assaulted in
2004.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131014014923/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2
009/12/113_32026.html]

Jin-Sil suffered from domestic abuse and divorced her husband, taking the sole parental custody of
her two children. In 2008, Jin-Sil was found dead in her home. It was revealed that Jin-Sil was deeply
shaken by the death of her close friend and husband of comedian Jeong Sun-Hee, Ahn Jae-Hwan
who committed suicide one month earlier due to distress over mounting debts. Jin-Sil came under
greater stress when rumours began circulating on the Internet that she was involved in his suicide.
[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/world/asia/03actress.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=Web%20rumors
%20tied%20to%20Korean%20actress%27s%20suicide&st=cse]

In 2013, member of g.o.d, Son Ho-Young attempted suicide in similar manner to his girlfriend by
lighting butane gas inside his car. After the car caught on fire, Ho-Young attempted to get out and a
passer-by noticed the fumes and called the police for help and rushed Ho-Young to the hospital
where he was treated. [https://www.soompi.com/2013/05/21/breaking-son-ho-youngs-girlfriend-
discovered-dead-in-his-car/] [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2014/12/gods-son-ho-young-reveals-
why-he-had-attempted-to-commit-suicide]

In recent years, 22-year-old Ahn So-Jin was found unconscious in the garden of an apartment
building but passed away while being rushed to the hospital. So-Jin was a finalist in TV competition
The KARA Project in bid to get into the girl group KARA, which she expressed was her final chance in
K-Pop stardom. Unfortunately, she lost the finals to Heo Young-Ji. Her contract with the label was
dissolved a month earlier and it is speculated that this further deepened her depression, ultimately
leading her to end her life after receiving no support from her family regarding pursuing a singing
career which she had revealed earlier. [http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/02/dsp-media-
trainee-and-baby-kara-member-sojin-passes-away-from-apparent-suicide]
[https://www.popdust.com/k-pop-star-ahn-sojin-dead-from-apparent-suicide-at-age-22-
1890530786.html] [http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/179743/20150302/suicide-of-baby-kara-
sojin-fuels-critical-discussion-of-k-pop-idol-working-conditions.htm]

Another unfortunate case comes from a former JYP singer-actress, Han Nah who took her life in
January 2014 during hiatus as she was suffering from panic disorder and emotional distress. Her
passing was not reported until later in the year in October.
[http://www.allkpop.com/article/2014/10/former-jyp-artist-han-nahs-suicide-belatedly-brought-to-
light]

It appears that despite the beautiful and cheerful personas that our favourite artists showcase on
our screens, they go through years of hard work and hardship to achieve their successes and some
unfortunately never make it, remaining nameless. It is true that it is them themselves who have
chosen this path but in a world that is wired together, these artists can also read and see everything
that is being said about them, including the negativity over small things that shouldn’t matter, such
as a healthy weight or darker skin being considered unattractive.

In the end, these artists are all human who are working hard and striving to be successful while they
do something that they love; singing.