SOURCE: 돈 내고 성추행까지…"K팝 아이돌을 꿈 꾼 대가는 컸다"
A report by the UK's BBC has revealed that foreign trainees who came to South Korea with dreams of becoming K-pop idols are facing high costs, unclear management, and even allegations of sexual harassment. As K-pop has grown into a global cultural industry, there are concerns about lack of laws and responsibility behind the scenes.
On the 7th (local time), BBC highlighted the stories of foreign trainees, including a teenage girl from Japan named Miyu (not her real name).
Miyu came to South Korea in 2024 with a dream of becoming a K-pop idol and signed up for a 6-month course at a K-pop training academy in Seoul. She revealed that she paid 3 million JPY (about 27 million KRW) in exchange for professional dance and vocal lessons, as well as opportunities to audition for major entertainment agencies. However, Miyu claims that the actual program was different from what was promised in the contract.
In her interview with the BBC, Miyu said, "They told me the auditions would be held every week, but not a single one ever happened." She added, "Both the number of classes and the level of training were lower than expected, given the price."
Miyu also claimed that she felt severe anxiety and fear due to the behavior of a senior staff member during training. She said, "He took me to a convenience store, saying that he would buy me an ice cream. But then he put his hand on my waist and told me, 'You have a nice body.'" She added that he once called her to his office to discuss outfits for a photo shoot and told her to 'sit on his lap.'
Miyu said, "I came here because I wanted to be an idol, but I felt like I was scammed." She added, "This was the place where I chased my dreams, but it also became a place that traumatized me."
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The BBC also shared testimonies from two other foreign trainees who attended the same academy. One of them, Ellin (not her real name), claimed she was touched inappropriately by the same staff member. Another trainee said she was not directly harmed, but witnessed inappropriate behavior toward other trainees. The two of them also stated that audition opportunities were not provided as promised.
Ellin reported the staff member to the police for sexual harassment and trespassing, but the case was closed due to a lack of evidence. She also filed a separate lawsuit against the company. Both the staff member and the company denied all allegations. Legal representative of the company told BBC, "The company's rule strictly forbids male staff from entering female trainee's dorms without a female staff member present." They also argued that the CCTV in the dorms was installed for protection purposes and the trainees were already told about it beforehand.
BBC pointed out that these problems didn't happen just because of an individual's misconduct, but from a lack of legal protection. K-pop training institutions are usually classified as academies under the Ministry of Education or as entertainment agencies. The academy Miyu attended was registered as an entertainment agency, which means it's not subject to education law. While it falls under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the training programs themselves are not subject to regular inspections or rules. An official from the Ministry of Education told BBC, "Under the current system, it's difficult to regulate 'academy-style agencies' for foreigners."
The competition for foreign trainees is also very tough. According to an industry report cited by BBC, there were 963 trainees in Korean agencies back in 2024, which is half of the number in 2020. While the number of foreign trainees has increased in recent years, their overall percentage is still low. Event after training for an average of 2 years, only about 60% of them successfully make their debuts. For foreigners, the barrier is even higher due to language, visa, and lack of connections.
Nevertheless, the success stories of global stars continue to bring young people to South Korea. Miyu said she dreamed of being a K-pop idol after seeing BLACKPINK's Thai member, Lisa. These days, K-pop features idols from various countries like Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
BBC concluded, "Behind the global success, there are cases of failure where people were not protected." They noted that the K-pop industry needs responsibility and legal systems hat match its fame. I her interview, Ellin saiid, "K-pop has gained worldwide fame, and responsibility comes with that fame. I hope children who are chasing this dream can live in a safer environment."
