K-Pop: Idols in Wonderland
'One Day, Idols Disappeared': Their Survival Story

[비즈한국] K-pop has become South Korea's greatest export. However, there is a deep shadow behind the glamour. The symbols of K-pop, the idols, are recruited at a young age and undergo harsh trainee periods. In that process, labor rights and human rights are frequently ignored. What happens to the countless trainees who never even get to debut? Through the 'K-pop: Idols in Wonderland' series, Bizhankook aims to highlight the problems that have been overlooked while K-pop was growing and examine alternatives from various angles. We believe that when those who create K-pop become healthier, the people who enjoy K-pop can also become happier.

"K-pop is currently obsessed with 'striking gold,'" says the CEO of a small-to-medium entertainment agency. "That’s because if even one team succeeds, it's not just a big hit, it's a massive success. There are even many people running idol businesses using loan sharks."

As the scale of the K-pop industry has grown, the number of entrepreneurs rushing into "idol production" has surged. In fact, the scale of the industry and the number of workers are increasing every year. According to the 2023 Survey Report on the Popular Culture and Arts Industry released by the Korea Creative Content Agency, the total revenue of the popular culture and arts industry in 2022 was 11.4362 trillion won. Of this, the management agency sector accounted for 6.8137 trillion won, an increase of 52.2% compared to 2020, and the production sector accounted for 4.6225 trillion won, a 36.6% increase from 2020. The total number of employees working in management agencies also rose to 19,008, an increase of about 8% compared to 2020.

Dozens of idol groups created in this manner debut every year, only to disappear without a trace. This is why even just having one's name heard once is considered being a "successful idol." Entrepreneurs bet their money, and idols bet their lives. What happens to the idols who are pushed out of this life-risking challenge?

We met with Heo Mi-jin, a former member of Cloris, an idol group that disappeared before fulfilling their 7-year contract, to hear the story behind the scenes.

Why did Cloris disappear?

"A group that suddenly disappeared one day." This is how Su-young, who was a fan of the girl group Cloris, recalled them. "They had many international fans, and I was excited because they were preparing for a comeback after recruiting a new member. But then they suddenly announced the end of their activities, which was truly bewildering."

The girl group Cloris disbanded in 2020. It was a group that had high fan expectations as they gained popularity primarily in Turkey and China rather than domestically. Why did Cloris disband? Mi-jin, a former member, describes that time: "We revamped the members to a level nearly equivalent to a re-debut, and we prepared the album very hard. Both the fans and we were very expectant. The recording was also completely finished. Then, suddenly, some members expressed their intention to leave, and after everything was decided, we were notified by the company that the group would be disbanded."

I was entirely the 'subordinate'

Mi-jin, who majored in acting, was offered an idol audition. She danced for the first time in her life for the audition. In 2017, Mi-jin became an idol 'trainee.' The agency had about 5 staff members. Except for vocal lessons, everything else was practiced on their own. Within less than half a year, she was lucky enough to debut as a 4-member girl group. "Because the company was small, there were many things we had to do ourselves. Especially in the early days, we also handled fan club management and marketing."

Most of the schedule was filled with 'events' (performances). They released only one album in two years. "About 90% of our schedule was filled with events. The remaining 10% was radio, broadcasting, or interviews. Since there was no manpower, staff who were poor at driving had to drive, or there were cases where we worked all day without eating at all. I didn't have much energy due to dieting, and I experienced dizziness during my period. Still, doing events was the most enjoyable part. We could meet our fans."

Then, a golden opportunity arrived. Cloris's song gained an explosive response in Turkey. "Our videos and photos spread across a famous Turkish community, and afterward, we received many inquiries via social media. We would get Instagram DMs constantly, even in the middle of the night."

Although they received attention from overseas before domestically, they could not conduct local activities. This was because the company judged it better not to go to Turkey. "We received many invitations, but in the end, we had no choice but to follow what the company told us to do. At first, I was very upset."

Although they went to numerous events for two years, they never received a settlement. Even the settlement statements could only be obtained long after requesting them. "There were no receipts or contracts, and the costs were written only as numbers on an A4 sheet. We did so many events, but the event income was written down as only a few hundred thousand won. Naturally, everything had to be in the red."

Eventually, in 2020, Cloris was suddenly disbanded. They were in the situation of preparing for a comeback by recruiting some new members. Mi-jin didn't even get a proper explanation for the disbandment. As it was a small agency, the members had no choice but to handle practical tasks, but in the decision-making process, they were entirely the 'subordinate' (eul). The remaining contract period was not a consideration for the 'superior' (gap).

"It was very hopeless. Still, I didn't want to give up, so I looked for an agency with my fellow member. At the time, we received offers from several agencies, and I started again at one of them."

Mi-jin joined a debut team immediately, but she had to leave the agency before a year had passed. "The training was conducted very systematically. Although it was a debut project team, no debut date was set. The atmosphere was strange. There were many trainees, and projects were underway, but there was an atmosphere suggesting they wouldn't let us debut, contrary to the contract. In the end, I left the group along with my fellow member, and the girl group debut was cancelled."

Involuntary retirement, and after…

2021. Mi-jin was twenty-seven years old when she quit being an idol. From home shopping to running a cafe, Mi-jin did jobs where she could earn money for the first time.

What she learned from idol life was how to properly read a 'contract.' She painfully experienced the fact that a single contract determines one's fate. "It's difficult to 'review' a contract just before debut. Even if you ask for modifications, the company doesn't accept them. There are so many cases where people sign because they just want to work. But that one signature determines everything. There are many people who have stopped after being a trainee for a long time, stuck in a contract."

Mi-jin became an insurance planner by utilizing her experience from this time. "Through the bitter experience I had as a student who didn't know the ways of the world, I now examine the terms of a contract thoroughly. I think I learned it thanks to my experience during my idol days."

Mi-jin cited 'career disruption' as the most difficult element in getting to where she is now. "An idol life doesn't become a career when you do other work, right? Realistically, succeeding as an idol is not easy at all. It's not just about having good skills. Most of the friends I know who quit being idols are self-employed. If there hadn't been a limit to my career, I think I would have challenged myself for a professional job. I hope there will be measures for artists with career disruptions."

※ The next installment will feature an article on the problems with standard contracts.

<We are waiting for tips from those involved>

Bizhankook plans to focus on reporting stories about K-pop and idols.

Trainees, those who have experienced idol life firsthand, or stakeholders working in the K-pop industry, please send us your tips. allhyeon@bizhankook.com

※ This project was supported by the Press Promotion Fund created by government advertising fees.