Korean pop, more often known as KPop, has recently become more and more popular not only in Korea, but around the world as well. KPop's attractive male and female idols are characterized by their talent in choreography and influence on fashion, and they often record vlogs of them playing games or just being playful in general. KPop concerts attract thousands worldwide, but is there a darker side behind the scenes?
You might be wondering how there came to be so many KPop bands springing up within the decade, and the answer lies in the three big record labels in Korea: SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, aptly referred to as the "Big Three." They scout out potential musicians as young as 10 years old, similar to MLB teams, and offer binding contracts to them in exchange for potential stardom.
The key word here is "binding." KPop record labels have often been criticized for exploiting the idols through overwork and these contracts, sometimes called "slave contracts." Many idols work up to 12 hours a day without breaks during their training periods, are put on restrictive diets even at a young age, and are pressured to undergo cosmetic surgery. They have also reported rehearsing and performing without sleep, and their private behavior is closely regulated. Most idols are even prevented from dating in order to appear "free" to their fans.
Another consequence of the binding contracts is the pressure by the management on the idols. Many female idols, some underage, perform at concerts wearing revealing clothes, singing suggestive lyrics, and doing provocative moves. While the Fair Trade Commission has announced guidelines to stop the sexualization of KPop idols and work toward acceptable working conditions, these are not binding and are unclear on what is considered sexual and what isn't.
While KPop will continue to be a lucrative business, it is also important for fans to understand what some idols go through in their private lives.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/21/entertainment/kpop-dating-hyuna-edawn-music-celebrity-intl/index.html
https://studybreaks.com/culture/music/sulli-k-pop-suicide/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13760064
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korean-law-protect-young-717098
For Blackpink, a Kpop band run by YG Entertainment, members, even more of their lives are controlled. They also aren't allowed to smoke, drink, drive, get tattoos, go to clubs, and were even prohibited from seeing their parents for a period of time. Their contract isn't permanent like the Baseball players however, and it is scheduled to expire in 2023. It is interesting to consider how much money they are receiving because the rules are pretty strict.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWSIIPh6yw0&t=101s
It's mostly because Korea's view regarding artists like these is that they should act as role models. Compared to Western countries, where apart from tabloids the actions of artists are rarely scrutinized, Korea's more conservative views cause them to blow relatively small things (such as an idol's attempt at buying cannabis) into a scandal, effectively ruining their reputation and career. It's pretty unfortunate that these talented people have to suffer through this because of their contracts.
DeleteThis is really fascinating and very different from our own music industry. I wonder if the american dream idea of being self-made is why ours is more individualistic. For the most part people and bands are not hand picked and if they are it is not until much later. The Kpop life style seems pretty insane to me. The amount of training that goes into it deserves more credit. I know that theirs is a larger focus on dancing and looks in Kpop compared to the American music industry. I wonder that when these groups gain more world wide popularity will they gain more freedom as a result of different cultural pressures.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have heard a lot of negative news about the excessive control of Korean entertainers by the chaebol. The Korean entertainment industry has become a "dark area" on the surface. K-pop stars seem to enjoy a lot of fame or make a lot of money, but in fact, their contracts make them lose all the power they have, so this great pressure makes many entertainers choose to commit suicide.
ReplyDeleteThe Korean approach to entertainment differs greatly from America and other western countries. With the companies being able to control the image of their singers they can do what is most economically beneficial for the company. I think that with western artists there is the idea of freedom and very little connection to the company but the singers income is very dependent on the changes in their public appearance. Even though the Korean system is very restrictive, it makes them more profitable because they can control the direction of the artist.
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