K-Pop: Idols in Wonderland
Interactive Page Released, Providing an Overview of the Idol Industry

[비즈한국] K-pop has become South Korea's premier export. However, there are deep shadows behind the glitz. Idols, the icons of K-pop, are scouted at a young age and endure grueling trainee periods. In this process, labor and human rights are frequently ignored. What happens to the countless trainees who never even make their debut? Through the "K-Pop: Idols in Wonderland" series, Bizhankook aims to highlight the issues overlooked during K-pop's growth and explore alternatives from various angles. We believe that when those who create K-pop are healthy, those who enjoy K-pop can be happier.

Is the K-pop grooming system truly okay as it is? Based on our "K-Pop: Idols in Wonderland" series, Bizhankook has launched an interactive page that captures the current state of the idol industry.

Centered on the content of articles serialized since July 10, the page uses various data and animations to point out the problems within the K-pop training system. In particular, it provides an at-a-glance look at comparisons of trainees' 24-hour daily routines and data calculating their labor hours against minimum wage.

The page also includes previously unreleased interview videos with industry figures. The interactive page features voices from various stakeholders in the entertainment industry, including South Korean rocker and Metallion Records CEO Nam Yo-han, idol specialized reporter Park Hee-a, Kim Young-min, head of the Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center, and Yoon Sun-mi, a visiting expert at the KDI (Korea Development Institute) Global Knowledge Cooperation Center, as well as columnist Kang Dae-ho, who worked with JYP CEO Park Jin-young and HYBE352820 Chairman Bang Si-hyuk. We examine the past and present of the K-pop industry and look toward the path forward.

Go to the interactive article: [Interactive] K-Pop: Idols in Wonderland (kpop.bizhankook.com)

K-Pop: Idols in Wonderland

How do children become idols?

Was the 'goose that lays the golden eggs' actually happy?

"80% of trainees suffer from amenorrhea"—10 years of being an idol, my body is broken

Why 'Bob Cut' Yujeong dove into 'education'

"15-year slave contract, they told me I couldn't consult a lawyer"

"16 is considered old"—A trainee's time runs backward

The reality of 'Idol Academies,' the training to become a trainee

What if idols had a labor union?

"Idols need a labor union too"—Teen Top Niel's candid advice

Are trainees workers or students?

'One day, the idols disappeared'—Their survival story

What has changed since the 'TVXQ incident'?

The reality of 'opaque settlements' that even Lee Seung-gi suffered from

How far has K-pop come?

The Korean-style training system experienced by an American trainee is...

Suggesting training to an American teenager: "What about school?"

Why couldn't the blue-eyed New Yorker become a K-pop idol?

"Bringing the Korean training system to the U.S.?" Why an LA producer shakes his head

Finding the reasons behind BTS's failed Grammy bid within K-pop

Nordic fans: "We love K-pop, but we don't want to become idols"

Why Swedish composers from the 'land of ABBA' are making K-pop

Are there no alternatives?

Is choosing between training and regulation the only answer?

Asking for a 'better K-pop' at a Swedish rock festival, the 'mecca of heavy metal'

The secret to the constant emergence of talented J-pop bands lies in schools

"Raising idols through public education"—Visiting a K-pop high school

K-pop can only survive by breaking away from the same 'success formula'

The injustice experienced by 'Ria', and what 'Kim Jae-won' will change

※ The next installment will feature an article on the SM Universe Academy.

※ This project was supported by the Korea Press Foundation through government advertising fees.