The K-pop Dream Factory | Unreported World
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- Опубліковано 25 тра 2024
- Unreported World goes inside the K-pop dance schools of South Korea, investigating the hidden cost of becoming the next big idol.
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Reporter Krishnan Guru-Murthy follows the artists training for years in an industry that demands perfection.
The Korean Wave is taking the world by storm and K-pop is no exception with the industry estimated to be worth $8billion thanks to its 200 million global fanbase. In the South Korean capital of Seoul, performing arts academies and schools are training the next generation of idols. But in reality only around 1% will make it big.
In the Hanlim School of Arts, one of the country’s most prestigious dance schools, Guru-Murthy meets 16-year-old Heesu Chung and her classmate Sui who have been training and auditioning for months to get noticed. Following these K-pop hopefuls Guru-Murthy learns how these teenagers are crafted to be idols with relentless training regimes, scripted answers and picture-perfect looks.
But is it all worth it? Guru-Muthy discovers the power K-pop fans have over their idols, and the aspects of life stars must give up in order to conform to the industry’s expectations. For some the pressure of K-pop life is too much. Artist Min Su quit the successful boy band Teen Top after fans complained about his tattoos and smoking. And in a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world, he explains that two of his friends took their own lives. “This is the dark side of the industry”, he explains.
Producer/Director: Katie Arnold
Series Producer: Andy Lee
Executive Producer: Ed Fraser
Production Company: Channel 4 News
These K-pop fans need to realise their idols are people, not objects. They can be in relationships if they want to. What an unhealthy dynamic.
That is what they sign up for. If they make it, they will be rich and famous.
Unfortunately, it's also the way the industry is designed
And fans attacking on the street back then, but nowadays wars on social media.
I’m convinced those are internet fans because who in their right mind would show up to an idol meet and tell them straight to their face that they can’t have a girlfriend/boyfriend. I’m sure it happens, but honestly they should seek help.
yup, but I think is more a trait from fans in asia, they are the most extreme ones, not only with this but with the haters clubs that only exist there
its so scary how the interviewer started talking about problematic subjects like the lost of control of their life, the suicide rates, the weight lost, but neither the teachers, parents or trainees see it as a problem
I have to add that the fact most trainees are minors and I didn't see a single person taking that into account
Exactly. Like they all just seem so indifferent.
I will never let my child take participate in that sort of crazy competition, permanent stress, exhausting trainings and pressure. Moreover, they are teens, they are so naive and can’t realise the side effects or consequences
I do believe they should've finished school first. Law that not allow them being idol under 18.
Its every entertainment industry that is full of enablers of the abuse of artists.
Kpop is just more in your face about it.
In the US we hold a façade that we are different, but we aren’t.
If you think any top artist is “free” you are sorely mistaken.
They dwell in guilted cages and push the lie that they are in full control of their lives.
Its bullshit, and if you’d pay attention when the speak…you’d hear them damn near cry out.
Prince said it…
Dave said it….
Kanye said it…
Britney…
So many…
People think being a POP ICON is some glamorous lifestyle, but it’s not. It’s literally the trenches.
The entertainment industry is like the belly of the beast.
Its the point where seedy industries meet and connect. Its some place I’d never want a beloved to be.
And to think people are sacrificing so much to be a part of a lie.
And to think so much MEDIA (aka writers aka other artists) has been dedicated to trying to warn people of what is going on…but yet….the allure of the shiny façade continues to ensnare people chasing a dream…a dream which most likely isn’t even theirs, it just looks shiny and fun.
People don’t know what they’re getting into when they step into that industry, and that’s just the material aspects of it. Don’t get me started on the immaterial aspects.
Snare after snare after snare.
Its like a booby trap factory filled with vipers and sharks who’d murder their own family if it meant gaining a couple bucks.
because this is normal for their society, they view extreme weight loss as a goal and suicides happen regardless of profession, most koreans don't have control of their life simply due to societal and parental pressures anyway
"It is hard to see the red flags when you're wearing rose colored glasses."
Tinted* ......
@@user-fm9nc4jn2s It means the same thing.
When the staff came in and started giving them answers to say I felt sick
Ironic too because the *rehearsed answers* were about how they're different and special...even though they only give answers that are pre-approved by their agent.
That's the sick business. However, the girls can leave whenever they want. Its the classic Faustian tale of giving up your soul to become a rich robot.
@@vandalg282They can't leave whenever they want, there is a contract between them and the company 😢
@@kuroyokki7700 That's right. It seems there's only one way and it's not OUT.
Depending on the contract, you really have to push it through and do your best to win them and debut otherwise, all your hardwork will go to waste. And also, You will have to pay them back if you dismissed the contract before it's due.
@@vandalg282 99% of the time, they can’t. they are under contract for usually around 7 years unless the company itself disbands them or ends their contract. also, companies that aren’t part of the “big 3” put trainees under “trainee debt” where not only do they pay for training expenses but they also have to pitch in lots of money for the music videos which are on average VERY extravagant and more expensive than western music videos, so the idols are actively put into debt
That picture he painted was so beautiful and sad
"beautiful"?
Lol
It was really meaningful
Lol
I laughed when he said that he wasn’t free to do anything he wanted on stage, but he had to be like a doll and everything was controlled and planned… so a choreography.
Oh my god the look on the moms face when shes asked about the suicides that are happening in her saughters field
ikr? it was quite insensitive of him, tbh😅 He can't read rooms at all.
@@NoctLightCloud That has nothing to do with reading the room. It's his job as a reporter to ask such questions. The mom needs to be aware of what could happen to her daughter.
@@Coyannn as someone with a degree in journalism, thats not how you approach such topic
@@Coyannn he is in korea.he should respect the boundaries of the countries where he do his job.
@@Coyannn albeit a sensitive topic, I think it was a fair question
Aespa once said in an interview that they sleep 5 hours per WEEK during promotions, and it hasn't left me since. That's legit scary.
Edit: it's from a 2023 interview, do some research. And your replies are just a testament to how horrific these conditions kpop idols are under that you quite literally don't believe it.
I dont see how thats possible. How could you actually sleep that little while being very active every single day and barely even looking tired?
@@ND-kh5yw lots of makeup, prescription drugs or IV. The fact that they're young lets them do it at such a crazy pace.
@@ND-kh5yw
I think its an exaggeration, if they genuinely had such little sleep over the course of a week or two, it would come with major cognitive difficulties, they would struggle to perform and likely have trouble remembering the choreo and lyrics, they would have trouble with basic coordination too, etc
I think they’re not accounting for things like the naps they take during the day. if you watch behind the scenes content of idols they take short naps quite often during promotions
and also i cant find the vid but snsd said that when they were at their busiest they had so much caffeine to stay awake that their hands would have tremors 😨
That's just not possible 😂 try it yourself.
@@divx1001even if you're young, you have to sleep I think
should have delved deeper into how much debt they will be in especially if they don't end up being successful, any other business it would be considered an investment and whether it succeeds or fails, the employees wouldn't be the ones footing the bill
Well, looks like the debt wouldn't be a problem at leastvfor the girl from this video after seeing the apartment her family lives in 😅
The reason is like in the U.S., kids pay for their own training/lessons before they get famous. If the idols trainees train with the company, that's why they have to pay it back.
And that's why many come from families with money (middle to upper classes) for working class teens it's too difficult to afford the trainee life for the years it lasts. Working class people are very few, almost nonexistent in the entertainment industry, not only in South Korea but in the rest of the world too.
Wrong. No one's gonna cover your startuo cost whether it's sports, business or music.
Needs to be a longer doc
It’s a pity that you didn’t show corporate relationships with girls and boys from labels and other media figures. How they promote bands, what dance videos they construct, forcing to dance, how to behave on public, what you allow and need to say on Twitter/Instagram and so on...Contracts scandals and such
There is a feeling of some kind of understatement
There's no way they'd allow that unfortunately.
They said they tried but couldn’t get a corporate interview.
Your comment is already biased.
They’re media, not the k-pop bible
@@JohnLee-db9zteveryone is biased
It was heartbreaking to hear the guy from Teentop talk about his friend's suicides
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
It's not the kpop industry that killed em it was those toxic fans who think they can insult anybody they want
@@mbo4950 industry lets these crazy fans acting like toxic jerks. So the industry is encouraging that sh …t coz of money
@@mbo4950the industry encourages it so it’s everyone genius
@@blackbird6001 they has nothing to do tho like how many can they sue 1000 or 5000 max
I think you need a part 2 into this because it gets much, much worse.
Sincerely, a Kpop fan who's been worrying about the wellbeing of these idols (as well as the power some idols exert and abuse) for the past 16 years.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
so why are you a fan of this exactly?
Why not focus on your own life instead of worrying about and obsessing over people who are essentially strangers to you? Fans need psychotherapy as well
@@blackbird6001 i think its normal to worry about the wellbeing of people you do not know as long as it doesn’t become parasocial (which wasn’t implied in the original comment at all)? that’s how human beings work, and people not worrying about it is how the industry got into this situation in the first place
@@blackbird6001 There are people younger than me and you who are depriving themselves of food, training until ungodly hours, putting their bodies under immense amounts of stress while, more often than not, still going to school. So that they can debut. That is something to worry about. As a K-Pop stan it is alarming to see teens as young as 15 debuting.
How robotic the girls from Candyshop looked, how their managers were basically their speech filter, and then how Minsoo from TeenTop points out that the industry just want the idols to be like "dolls" to be controlled remind me of how North Korean people behave whenever they are in public with foreigners filming. (':
Yeah, depressing to see that eerie similarity between what is meant to be democratic South Korea and totalitarian North Korea.
Love the reporter trying it out
His kids must be so embarrassed 😂
@@NyanyiC Its a parent's job to embarrass their kids
@@NyanyiCif he is my dad, i couldn't be more prouder. He is good reporter ❤
Literally The same guy who interview Robert Downey Jr and Quentin Tarantino 😂
He was really good and quite supple 😊
The member from candy shop is currently on temporary hiatus for health reasons, which just means that she isn't participating with the others for promotions, training ect. But it is quite uncertain if she will stay in the group as the company added a new member, a 'replacement' so they can promote as four. Now the question is will she stay and will they become a 5 member group or will she leave officially (there has been no announcement so far) ? Most companys don't just replace members of their groups. Those that constantly change them are always also highly controversial and in most cases not that popular.
Brave ent has done this before with their last group & the member never returned.
It's such a stupid thing to do though
They did this with Hyeran Noh, an original member of Brave Girls. They said she’s just gonna go on hiatus, but she never returned.
Sad because she was a very good rapper and she was one of the last 2 originals of the lineup + they weren’t on the lineup when rollin got viral
bro. its brave ent. she will be their first former member. remember brave girls/bbgirls? lineup changes until yoojung left the group
they have julia wearing yuina's outfits... yuina ain't coming back. which is sad because she was my favourite
If you even do a part two, please interview more former idols. Some of them don’t fair well years in. From broken bones caused by malnutrition and excessive training to other issues.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
I feel bad for that candy shop group, their management is awful
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
Those types of stories are all too common in the industry. A young hopeful works hard to debut but the group is not a success. I've seen it happen many times. Only a very few are lucky to become as big as Blackpink or BTS.
Candy shop, Young Posse is few of current rookie groups come from very small company. They will have almost non-existent promotions since their company can't pay most mainstream tv and online studios to promote their group. Back then, groups like them will promote in the streets with no proper audio sistem and jump to one cheep small concert to another ones at least 4/5 stages per day in whole week. It's 10 times more tiring than groups came from BIG 4 companies. Most of these group commonly will have got attention if one or two members got public recognitions from fancam or viral short videos.
Usually groups debuting under one of the Big 4 entertainment companies have easier paths to success...Unfortunately for those groups debuting under smaller companies, they'll have to move mountains to be successful.
He really tthrew mom for a loop with that question....
She was shocked bless her and she didn’t like it
It was honest question about possible consequences
the question wasn't even about the suicides
She looked so scared it broke my screen
I think the translator said extra stuff to the mom@@pureheartx3576
As a fan of kpop, I can safely say that there are fans who don't mind if a kpop idol is in a relationship, smokes a cigarette or drinks as long they don't commit a crime while doing it. Sadly, there indeed are fans that do imagine their favorite idol as 'perfect', which puts a lot of pressure on the idol, the company, and the staff working with the idols. Some idols can't keep up this image and want to quit. Some successfully do and get new careers (whether it's a 'normal' job or still in the entertainment industry, aka acting, etc..). Sadly, some aren't as successful and take their own life.
I hope that we as fans can start to learn that idols are human beings like us and that they also are just doing their job, like us.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
exactly. i’ve stabbed twice since 2019. in that time, i’ve seen them drink, have relationships, have (mental) health struggles and other things that they are very open about. it’s mostly bc they are under jype and it’s sad that other companies, especially the bigger ones, can’t give their groups similar openness.
One major thing should be changed-quit calling them idols. They are not gods/ perfect people. Expectations this high are very difficult to live up to for years on end.
@beth5870 yeah I agree as kpop fan I've tried to just call them artist instead of idol.. idol puts them on a pedestal and puts insane pressure. They are artist and deserve a safe space to do what they want
@@BebobopapGUM People call them idols because the 'artists' themselves call themselves 'idols'... most likely, the idea of an entertainment company from a few generations ago. We people are simple-minded and just follow along almost anything (just like taking over certain behavior or speech)
However, I do agree with the statement to call them artists even tho I'm used to calling them idols.
it's insanity since the rookie groups copy and paste what's already been done and expect to emerge as something new because they're somehow "different"
That's why NewJeans got so big so quickly, they went completely the other way and did their own thing that was conceptually different to what other groups were doing.
@@aternialaffsalotnot really they just were from hybe
@@aternialaffsalotdefinitely
Illit is shit
Yes but doing something new is also risky
I was afraid this would be yet another "dark side of kpop" story done in a lascivious way that dehumanizes the idols and reduces the art form to people acting as marionettes. Thank you for an insightful and well rounded look at some of the issues in the industry.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
@@rachael5611are you done..?
So you don’t like the truth about this craft that exactly what you’re afraid of is what happens?
@@sayitasis8326 I don't understand your question
Too many dark side or dark internet videos
People in the comments are way off about their Kpop facts. It existed and flourished way before BTS and even though they’ve achieved new heights in the international market they didn’t exactly change the system or expectations for idols after them. They are an exception not the rule. But in any case Kpop didn’t start with them they are part of a larger history and you can’t paint the industry as pre and post BTS , you miss so much of the actual reality if you do that
Well they are unicorns sure, cause they are artists first, music is main content everything else is additional. When kpop everything first except music. So it is funny to watch as some try to make "next bts" so many years and fail.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
I'm an older (53) kpop fan, and have been following the genre since the 90's. To me it seems like the fans are becoming more unhinged, and obsessive as the years go on. It makes absolute zero sense that actual adults are not allowed to have consensual relationships due to fans wanting to think that "One day soandso will see me in line, and will sweep me off my feet". The companies seriously need to stop giving fans so much control. They are adults not monks or nuns.
ONE NAME: (Mybe two)
S. N. S. D.
SUPER JUNIOR.
Before KPop got big in the West we were already watching them in Asia. The 90s 2000s gave groups such as H.O.T. that kids these days never even heard of but then again I'm old hahaha
Heesu is a very bright girl, I am praying she stays strong if she chooses stay within this industry.
When they showed her dancing in the first clip I was like "I'm starting to realize why so many idols are injured with foot and leg injuries" 😅 that foot work in that choreography is CRAZY. It looks like their legs have no bones🐙
I casually enjoy kpop, and it's definitely difficult to defend ALOT of it to an outsider.... The kpop scene is very different from what we're used to in the western music. K-agencies have found a new formula, giving fans a feeling of a close relationship with idols, it's blessing and a curse... But the money is pouring in for those fortunate few
That's sums it up perfectly 👍
funny that when discussing cap's controversies they left out him going on a rant on television about how a woman's place is at home and how if his future daughter ever tried to go out he would beat her up, which resulted in a huge controversy for his group during the peak of their career, which was a reason for why a lot of the fandom turned so harsh towards him. doesn't really change what he said and this is a good video but i wish we got new input from other ex-idols, especially female ones who were under even stricter rules and got hate for way less.
Hmm, if the woman is able to manage house and job well then I don't see an issue. He needs to change his thinking. I know a lot of women who work outside and then come home and manage home quite well..they even take care of kids well.
The look on her mom's face when asked about the suicides... 😰Her mom never recovered from that question.☠
The interview didn't ask abiut suicides, probably the translator stuck that in extra
this documentary showed how voiceless k-pop idols can be, like C.A.P said they are forced to act like dolls
4:33 they are actually allowed to drink. There are literally variety shows centered around the intense drinking culture in korea that idols attend and drink alcohol on.
I think what this means is they are only allowed to drink in a work-approved setting
@@joyce3003no it’s just no clubbing
Right ive only seen backlash on underage drinking
Tbh that just shows how much of a problem drinking is in Korea.
@@seal3081 True, I mean idols should be allowed to drink occasionally if they want to. But these variety show just glorify the consumption of alcohol, and especially this challenge to drink as much as possible to prove how much you can handle.
I honestly do think the use of the term "agent" is incorrect. It's their manager.....he is employed by their company and represents the company (in this case Brave Ent). The traditional sense of the word "agent" people in the west think of CAA or WME in which the agent represents the artist and fights for their needs. In korea, the manager represents the company's needs. It's a distinct difference that if you extrapolate, highlights the crazy structure of entertainment in korea. A lot of people here are complaining that fans shouldn't treat their idols like objects but the reality is, it's no different then what their companies are doing. They are just money making entities for the companies....no more/no less. It's no different than how Mercedes might treat a car off the lot
Minors are also under the legal guardianship of their managers. Parents sign them over as trainees.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
I love kpop so much (been a fan for 7 years and counting) but i can acknowledged this ugly side and I completely resent it. However, the problems in the kpop industry are just extensions of cultural norms/issues in South Korea. If we want the issues within the kpop industry to be resolved then South Koreans have to start reflecting on the issues of their culture in order to start change (which I believe is happening now but slowly).
Every industry has an ugly side, the only difference is whether it gets televised.
right? when the reporter at the end said they will lose all of their freedom when they become idols, i thought - young people in SK have already lost their freedom because of their horrifically intense and competitive schooling system. then things are just as intense while they search for a job and start their careers. i think the reason so many young people want to become idols is that they see idol life as an escape from real life, which is arguably just as bad.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
Exactly. And that's why the parents and teachers don't see anything wrong with the youngsters striving to be idols. At the end of the day it's a career that comes with certain restrictions that they are aware of before signing up.
It's us westerners that feel so stressed when we get in to kpop because it's so alien to have to abide by so many rules!
For them is make it or break it. It’s good if u have a dream for something ur passionate about but this whole industry is literally a business closer to human trafficking the only profit is labels and idols are just liability products strict to only a caged life.
Though some are naturally talented to be able to sing and dance but they are just a billboard selling hopes and dreams what they think it’s a lifestyle to an easy life but record labels are the devils and ur just selling ur soul . Imagine fans dictating ur life of who you should be instead of what u do best to express urself in ur music.
Ok kpop apologist
@@edster8416 ""lented to be able to sing and dance but they are just a billboard selling hopes and dreams what they think it’s a lifestyle to an easy life but record labels are the devils and ur just selling ur soul . Imagine fans dictating ur life of who you should be i"
you said that like the kpop industry is the only industry whereits happen when western genre like rock and hip hop have far higher body count.how many rappers died by homicide? too many to count.how many rockers died by suicide? too many to count.
I’m sure Black Pink, BTS, etc disagree. 😂
Yet you still watch Kpop. You must support human trafficking then. 🙄🤦🏻♂️
That's a powerful painting :o
The dinner with Heesu was heartbreaking ❤️🩹
why is it evrytime i encounter a video when a korean kpop fans being ask/interviewed why they like a certain group of idols,,they always answered "because they are handsome or they are cute" .like wtf arent you supposed to like a certain artist bcoz of their talent 😢
Girl...if boy bands were made of overweight balding men no one would pay to go see them 😂 idols are not artists. Kpop is a visual genre. Beauty 1st music last.
Its pretty ironic nowadays. The fans are changing a lot, some for the better, some for the worse. Recently Jihyo has been revealed dating, and most fans have been super chill about it, and even made fun tiktoks about it, Ryujin was seen with a Vape and she actually got miixed reactions, some fans loved it, some hated it, but the backing those big groups receive nowadays is no joke. I especially feel like JYP groups created a bond with their fans, that doesnt revolve around 100% perfection, which imo is the sustainable way. Bang Chan says what he thinks and even got hated for it, Chaeyoung has tattoos and Ryujin smokes (presumably) vapes. All these small "imperfections" show how sometimes being different, can increase your fan loyalty by a lot. Obviously this also comes with the risk of losing some fans, or even generating hate.
pls understand that most of the backlash/ control from fans comes from k-fans. international fans are generally more open and supportive of their idols on their private lives.
Right, k netizens are just on another level
*A different level of suppressed aggression and cruelty that manifests as bullying idols online. All K-pop fans need psychological help and they need to start focusing on their own lives instead of stalking other people's actions like maniacs* 😐
Not true. I've seen a lot of foreigners on twitter and other socials doxing, making death threats and being disgusting...
International fans try to act superior but deep down they are also in a parasocial relationship with the idols.
What y'all "fans" did to Karina was so fucking disgusting.
Most of the fans were Winrina shippers who were mad she wasn’t a lesbian.
it was all korean fans. internationnal fans dont have problems with dating
@@aerimychrrywild to say when international fans were the one mad at her for not being a l3sbian lmaoooo
@@user-mt4ot2xl5h it was just a few and they were made fun of. the others were just a joking
@@user-mt4ot2xl5h Either way, those that fucked her (and him) over just for dating, international or otherwise, should be sent to the Gulag.
Try to imagine from other Nationalities wants to become a KPOP idol! It could be 5 times harder coz the barrier of the Language, they have to learn hangol but thats only one aspect. thats why it is really impressive on how many Filipinos now are becoming KPOP idols such as Lapillus, Horizon, KATSEYE, UNIS, TOZ etc with Filipino members on it. they’ve become the next wave of KPOP idols together with mainstay Koreans, Japanese, some Chinese, Americans, Taiwanese, & Thais.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
But they aren't all popular they are just b list seriously popular idols like Lisa or NATTY are examples those girls are hardly even known they didn't really make it just because they debuted does nit mean they are successful some popular from their same countries like Philippines people are the only ones who really cheer them on doesn't really count
@@eeeyea9304 Filipino KPOP idols are talented in fact way too talented coz Filipinos are known to the world as talented singers as evident by the rising of PPOP lead by SB 19 hitting top 10 in the US billboard with Gento and recent single Moonlight. True, They are yet to be popular like Lisa but on the talent Standpoint, There’s no denying that Filipinos are the next wave of KPOP idols simply because they are just that good and more Filipinos will debut as KPOP idols together with Koreans, Japanese, Some Chinese, Americans, Australians, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Australians, & Thais.
I just checked out SB19, didn't know they exist until today - AND I'M BLOWN AWAY!
Thank you.
It's just unfortunate Candy Shop debuted with BABY MONSTER, ILLIT, and UNIS. Those 3 are the most popular girl groups that time then KIOF having a comeback makes it worse and now the competition is more difficult for smaller groups but well, it's not like it's the end of the line for them. They can still make their name bigger in their next comeback
If their mental health is like the Japanese "just stop feeling sad" model then I don't think they know what mental health is - and the high suicide rates clearly show for that.
I was into K-pop from 2011-2017. Sad to see that it’s still as toxic as ever. The fact that they provide little to no emotional support for their young talent is why the mental health crisis will never change. This is just one of many reasons why I don’t support it anymore.
Is it because you think other entertainment industries are better or morally superior?
Sounds like you’re still into Kpop.😂
@@AxsIavyup Kpop fans are so judgmental themselves.
Even when they do to extend, people still miss signs or put impossible standards, even fans from non Asian cultures put the bar too high, even tho is old situation we know what happened with Jonghyun, he literally had tattoo pointing his poor mental health and people still didn`t pay attention
Well, the 2nd gen is much worse brow. You think underaged girls dancing provocatively? Ehem you know what I mean dude. I became part of kpop fandom since 2009 hahahaha. SO this generation? It's just like the kids ooops i mean the fans want their idols to be stone, but before, the 2nd gen are more carefree, but the concept is so very SEXY. like wth
clicked as soon as i saw candy shop in the thumbnail. Reality can be so hard for them, it's so sad.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
As hard as it is for people like them , it's harder for people not like them in that country, so
There's a new doc about this topic every few years. The fans and money keep the machine going.
Minsu had bad reps and most know what he did, he didnt being "reprimanded" over smocking and tattoos only. Last few years was hard for him. There were times when teen top didnt even get paid , teen top was a huge boyband mind you. So as the leader he suggested all members to open yt channel, he also kept dancing even though he had gout. He had a hard time so he discussed with the members to leave the group. Nowadays he has yt channel, his paintings, art classes , cleaning services ( for gardening) etc. He probably not your fave person but he had it rough and had learn to be better. Best of luck for Bang Minsu.
Love how the reporter is dancing too, very fun!
Anyway I truly believe that industry should be regulated because of the ages these idols start practicing and debuting which in some cases are as young as 10 to 14 and the way the companies encourage the parasocial relationships to uncomfortable degrees and weaponizing that for things like fansigns which encourages mass buying and then dumping of those albums
They mentioned Karina’s dating issue… wild
4:52 B2ST/Highlight are really talented!!!
9:58 Teen Top C.A.P. Smoking controversy. He was the leader of Teen Top btw
21:06 Candy Shop debut showcase. They sadly got overshadowed by other groups during that debut.
What happened to the Candy shop is just plain sad and unfortunate. They debuted with popular groups like baby monster, ILLIT. and even UNIS. It also didn't help that KIOF made their comeback at that time.
@@RedRedRed0-0 even Rescene which was from an entirely new agency, generated more album sales than them (33,000 vs Candy Shop at 1,300), that’s despite Candy Shop being from a very popular producer (Brave Brothers)
@@ajorbista Well the girl group competition for popularity is extremely difficult and unfair right now in 5th gen. Rescene and Candyshop should improve everything for their next comeback to get the needed attention for their popularity, oh even Rescene is getting forced to do public busking in public parks to promote their group and songs unlike the groups of UNIS, ILLIT, and BAEMON who are already performing in mega concerts, large stages and even overseas. So smaller groups should step on their game or they'll get eaten by those 3 big groups.
@@RedRedRed0-0 Rescene is doing pretty good for a new group under a very new agency unlike Young Posse (which is from DSP, which was formerly one of the agencies with very popular artists such as Fin.KL) and Candy Shop. They just need to make sure they’re well promoted and make the most of their promotions (like what Unis does) to continue the momentum.
ok but to defend angels here (teen top's fans), he himself said he didn't like being an idol anymore. what's the point of him staying in a group after ten years if he doesn't like it? also, he makes it seem as if people hated his tattoos and smoking habits, but they also defended him time and time again when he made misogynistic remarks and when he talked carelessly about other people. it's understandable if he felt suffocated, but to paint it as if he's without his own faults which were lack of common sense as someone with a platform, however much unknown his group may have become is so tasteless.
angels back then were not that considerate and they don't change that much, also the company was horrible, they didn't give the group proper comeback, though TEENTOP established some rules back then like the age of debut, and the pop rock combination and catchy dance. He had a contract, if he wanted to live as all the contract jobs they lose his benefits, but if he gets fired he can demand the money for the all the time he worked.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
13:15 this is some real art
I hope this is a series.There's still so much to mention, like the complexity of company contracts, and staged/fixed Kpop audition shows. There's also the wonder of the street scouted idols who have stories that sound like fate.
This needs a series dedicated to past k pop idols current and like this one starters. Definitely some contestants for shows or idols getting ready for green lights to debut.
Great video and narration . Best wishes to the idol trainees and heesul to debut
Thank you for a really fascinating and well-made documentary. As a long-time K-pop fan, I think you addressed some pressing issues within the K-pop industry. When I first got into the genre, I was flabbergasted by the ridiculous (and frankly, dehumanizing) expectations that fans and production companies alike had for their artists. Then you quickly realize (and indeed any K-pop fan is well aware of the issues pointed out in this documentary) that these things are so deeply entrenched that every time an idol gets treated like a human being, everyone pats themselves on the back and congratulates themselves. I speak from very limited knowledge, but it seems to me like there's a self-feeding cycle of never-ending toxicity and unattainable standards between South Korean society and the K-pop industry, which ends up hurting everyone-fans, artists, and staff alike. I mean I can't tell you the amount of times I have noticed an artists and thought to myself that they were incredibly skilled and good looking only to find out that they are considered sub-par by South-Korean standards. Of course, you could extend that argument to any industry or country, but the K-pop industry is unique in the specific ways these pressures manifest.
the worst is the immature toxic fans
toxic and dumb. easier to get money from them.
Omg the fights I’ve seen are crazy 💀 People were complaining that a fandom name was copied….it was literally the name of a common flower
@@chuuislovechuuislifelilies debate made me angry bc they actually changed it even when it was spelled differently. Lisa fans are so annoying
@@oopsydaizy remember that time lisa's fans got angry over dahyun skipping an ad? I mean every fandom has toxic people but blinks are on a whole other level.
I really liked this report, as it delves into real experiences from different perspectives of the k-pop industry, unlike other reports I've seen of the same topic. Very well done and produced.
That painting was wonderful! ✨I feel sorry for that person who lost their friends!
That painting was hard hitting, idol real struggle hapoen after debut, contract issues with companies, scandals, unoess u debut for big 4 - hybe, jyp, yg, sm chances of ur making big down to 0.1%
it's nice to see this subject being brought into the light. too many kpop fans often think that idols are some robots who need to do everything to please their fans and think being an idol is the best thing to ever happen to someone without thinking of the sacrifices those very idols must make to maintain the job. i hope there's a day where all kpop fans realize that their favs are human too - they'll make mistake, they have emotions, and they're not some mindless doll created to do anything the fans want.
Funny enough I think many people are aware especially internationally. It`s this giant web of rules and "traditions' that still lead to so many bad situations even tho not all people are blindsided or unaware, many also believe partly to some things but ignore others that doesn`t fit their ideas
The mom's face says it all.
Need a part 2 with this reporter. Hooked me from start to finish.
Wonderful video! I hope we can see a part 2
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him.
Would there be another series discussing this subject from the kpop fan's perspective? Since it says here the fans demand a lot, curious to see what were they thinking
I think in this vid it shows Korean Kpop fans like the general Korean public are fairly conservative which makes expectations that much higher.
Most of the idols smoke and dating, and only the delulu fans are in denial. Not all kpop fans are like the young fans who are so controlling. It's not the labels' fault that the idols have to be skinny. It's the toxic fans who criticized idols for weight gains. The fandom culture needs to change first.
Say it louder!!!! The world needs more persons like you.
i worked for 9 years where i live with lighting production for events, including shows and festivals. apart from the religious people, i can count on one hand those who didn't use drugs, smoke or drink to keep up with the pace. can't imagine why it would be any different in sk.
Imagine getting invited for dinner and immediately asking the mom if she thinks her daughter will off herself, excellent dinner convo
It was an interview at the end of the day and he is a reporter. Valid question
yeahh but remember they agreed to it, and it is his job so they kind of saw it coming in one way or another
It’s really interesting that people have an immediate negative image on kids training to be idols but praise young olympians. A lot of the same exact situations in sports and performing arts. There’s also a lot of ignorance over the word “idol” - they’re not just singers, that word has a lot more weight and meaning to it, there are korean singers who don’t have the same strict standards because they aren’t marketed as idols. Being a singer and being an idol is different
At least sports people aren't judged by their looks
It's also due to a superiority complex, they view their own culture as morally superior and more righteous, and they view other cultures as morally inferior and not adhering to the high-standards of their own culture. They probably wouldn't say the same about the equivalent of this in their own culture.
Same with the youth football culture in England. Hooliganism is arguably 10x worse than stan culture. Would rather have my life ended by teenage girls than middle aged men 😭
@@Michelle_Wellbeckyes they are!
@@oopsydaizy what do you mean? Do they get extra points in tennis if they're hotter than the other player?
Am I the only one who thinks the Aespa Dating Scandal was a publicity stunt? Dating is okay for anyone but they do deserve to be called out on other things like the average person would. When they break the law for example.
idol life ain't easy
LIFE isn't easy
@@robertthomas2312 gigachad
@@robertthomas2312life isn’t easy however your life compared to theirs, is probably better. you get to spend time at home, you probably get more than five hours of sleep, you probably don’t have cameras following you everywhere and leaking your private information about your family, getting death threats or letters from fans being sent with their own blood and other dna. people putting trackers in your gifts and mirrors, cars and others. having to dance and perform for hours a day, messing up once and it getting blown way out of proportion.(yes, it happens)
@@sicatszYou can't assume about this life, when you don't know him. Same for idols
@@idontknow9357 the idol industry and its treatment of them is literally out to the public. so many idols speak about it all the time. so yeah i can say that. it’s not an assumption.
This is like a factory of humans The world of kpop is so disturbing and scary knowing this idols give complete control over their lives for fame it feels like a pact with the devil
I work in this Music Industry here in London and I have done for many years - since I i was very young. Writing and producing for a lot of very successful bands and artists both here and in the States.
I have also worked with a lot of very successful Kpop and Jpop bands and artists.
This documentary really is just scratching the surface. Its brutal 😳🇬🇧
Are things just as awful in the Japanese and British industries as well? there's the impression that it's South Korea that's uniquely harsh on people
@@mariyannuism The Jpop industry - absolutely. Nowhere near as bad here in the UK though but then we don't really have bands which reach those stratascopic levels of superstardom. I can think of bands like "One Direction" but that's mainly due to marketing.
Their live shows didn't hold a candle to the energy, staging, and live spectacle of the Kpop and Jpop bands. The work ethic is insane and I'm often dialing these bands back a bit when I produce them.
They would be truly culture shocked when we work together because I don't believe in being super strict or ruling with an iron first to get the best out of artists. I make it super fun, we hang out, eat together and sight see and I try to cultivate a family atmosphere with my whole team, creating a really strong bond.
In my younger, fitter days I would work on the choreography too and also vocal training, my way - always encouraging the bands to sing live where possible in rehearsals to build lung capacity. The live TV shows in Japan and Korea like Music Bank still use a lot of voice processing and lip syncing - which can and does go wrong. So I like bands to always be prepared if a show throws them a curve ball. I've seen numerous shows where the presenter suddenly hands the band microphones and asks them to sing acapella to catch them out.
I used to hear some horrific stories of trainees being forced to run for hours on treadmills and sing, while being beaten for falling behind. 😳
I thought that was all made up but it really isn't. I explained that's not how I work, it's abuse and nobody is ever mistreated with me. Not my style at all.
I won't name the band but they are a Kpop group with multiple units and members - huge all over the world. While trainees, one of the member showed me a copy of his schedule and I thought it was a joke. I still have it.
The way each day was divided up was crazy. He was Japanese so was having Korean and Chinese lessons, Stagecraft, Singing ... Then maybe 20 minutes break for lunch and then dance training until 2 or 3am. Every day.
Then a new list of Korean and Chinese words to learn for the next day's lessons and in total one hour bedtime.
It's not unusual for members to get sick or confused. I remember certain NCT members used to get ill a lot because they were in so many sub units that on promotional tours, they would often forget which country they were in.
@@user-eh8cg4bp3y
i feel the trainee youre talking about is from nct?
@@davestridr 🤔😁
@@user-eh8cg4bp3y omg i just realised you said hes japanese so its… Yuta? Lol
the new maknae of nct who got added through lastart is only a year older than me and I couldn’t imagine being an idol, even if i love kpop the trainee system is just not for me 😩
Very good documentary. I actually stumbled upon Candyshop's song a while ago and it's cute. I hope their future is bright
Dang, I appreciate UNIS more now. Their company lets them do whatever they want and be whoever they want. Their answers aren't scripted and some even treat Weverse like X or Facebook with how random their posts and comments are. Maybe because they aren't just newbies but are basically the first group of their company. They also have like what, a month of preparation before debuting. Even their socials posts years pre debut have the same character and personality as their post debut ones.
Agree with this
Uhmmm isn’t UNIS mostly kids? If anything you should be concerned for them because the next two years are gonna rough especially for them as kids.
@@havensohn3821 Majority of the new gen are all kids. Heck even the ones on this documentary are kids. Almost no one debuts adult idols nowadays. Except when they've been a group that's been training for years before debuting. Kotoko is the only one who hasn't been in the entertainment industry prior to joining UT. The rest have been active for years. And by the next two years, they're the age of the current other gen 5 but with more experience. But like I said, these girls don't have as much rough handling as the others who are micromanaged to act down to a T.
They aren't even the youngest group to debut. In 2005 there was Orange (오렌지) . Their maknae was 9 years old at the day of debut.
😐
Naive as fuck
the roots of k-pop idols and the toxic idol culture is so beautifully portrayed through his words and the painting even though it's heart wrenching.
17:47 omg she's singing 'once again' by Winter and Ningning ❤
I would say being a kpop idol is akin to being a sports athlete. Dancing, singing live, strict dieting, staying in shape etc.
Kpop agencies will not take action against the toxic fan culture because it makes them an exponential amount of money, and that is their top priority over the mental health of both the artists and the fans. I've never agreed with the fan culture and I've had hopes it would change, but especially when there's that much money involved, its not likely.
if you’re featured in a documentary as a trainee you best believe your dreams of becoming a popular idol are already killed 🙏 this is the peak of your fame
Okay but he paints so beautifully wow 🩷
Crazy part about it is it's like a factory... most of the time these companies have so many that you might think you are going to be in a group and then cut you for the next best thing. Also Korea is VERY big on looks and promoting this type of culture . Perfection. People look at idols as perfection and if they aren't they feel disrespected
Robotic stars for robotic fans
Teen top was somewhat big in my day. They made some buzz when they debuted but then sorta dispeared
Strange he didn't ask the obvious follow up question to her response, "so you're saying it's okay for not just an idol, but for anyone to lose it all if they make one mistake?" Yeeesh. It's crazy how in some cultures people aren't actually expected to be more human than human.
very good documentary, appreciate your work. Hope to see such more contents
There are 2 K-pop shows on VIKI that show how the process is done. No sugar coating. Sometimes it is downright brutal the feedback from actual producers are.. One thing for sure though. These girls that try out definitely have incredible talent. Most are 15-17 years old and have been training for years. In addition to maintaining their regular school work. The shows are : Girls on fire & I-Land2 N/a. Definitely worth a look.
As a K-pop follower, like any industry it has many negative things but perhaps little by little they have been changing. Unfortunately in Asia the fan-idol relationship is unhealthy, and almost authoritarian. It's as if Asian fans can take control of the idol's personal life, who he dates, what he does every day, if he smokes or drinks.
Something that doesn't happen much with fans outside of Asia, outside of Asia fans see things in a more open and normal way. Without a doubt it is a demanding industry, which delivers good things and quality. But the cost of this is very high.
Heesu kinda looks like Giselle from Aespa, I hope she succeeds and is happy ❤
that drawing of min su from band top teen was so pretty and thoughtful love that
Candyshop Sarang has a lot of talent, i love Candyshop
he did not quit the band for "smoking on live". The problematic behavior is left out purposefully?
Well, this interview explains his behavior quite well. Alcoholic, gone trough trauma, he probably already had given up his career and he spoke out his thoughts. I hope he will find a better place for himself.
@@Khaphoo the problematic things he was very comfortable saying are not mentioned in this interview. But I won’t go into details, everything is publicly accesible.
God loves you and has a purpose for your life He wants to have a relationship with you if you accept Him You are worthy in His eyes and i hope you can see how much love He has for you and has a purpose for you you dont need to feel this your battles can have a meaning with Him
Yeah that’s what I was thinking, it’s his behaviour and his wierd comments during interviews and his lives that had him kicked out of Teen Top not a damn cigarette
Watching this video really breaks my heart
@13:22 bruh, that's a really CLEAR picture
Is there another part or??
I can't believe its CAP from Teen Top 😭 I'm so glad for him standing up for himself
My jaw dropped when the presenter raised the issue of suicide in front of the young girl and her parents. I don't know if he cleared that with her parents beforehand but the subject is far too serious for a quick journalistic surprise moment on camera.
I think super fans are like big fans blowing really cold air to their idols, true fans are only blowing moderately
Dude make excellent art
It’s really weird to me how those girls had to answer the simplest questions the exact way their staff told them… I am a K-pop fan as well I love many groups like bts and seventeen and for me they’re just some artists that I like! I’m just someone who supports their art so it doesn’t make any sense to get mad if they date or smoke their literally just human beings!! I think the reason that many fans are really toxic and want their idols to be like idk some perfect figure is because the companies show these idols that way… If idols had the freedom to say and do what they want and be honest about it then fans wouldn’t expect them to not date or smoke or get tattoos or gain/lose weight and will love them because of their music and performance…
Sth Korea is an extremely Oppressive country that has to Live by the Hierarchy System, so fans in Sth Korea look to Pop for escapism more so than most other countries. The KPop fans know that the idols *HAVE TO abide* by the system, so it's their chance to feel Entitled to Own, Command, Harrass...and Stalk.
You need to follow up with a documentary on how the crazy fans..Sasaengs...Stalk the idols, lie in wait, find where they live, where they eat etc
Then look at the MOBBING in the Korean Airports...they are relentless, cruel, uncaring...just plain Crazy.
Yea , that's why they have to go to Western countries, cuz western countries give Asians loads of opportunites to succeed in the entertainment industry...... oh wait.
Isn’t Hollywood very similar? They have Hollywood Studios to make it big as a Movie Star
Don't act like it isn't worse in other countries, also I'm from SK and I do not feel 'oppressed', everyone has a hard time making it in society no matter the country.
11:50 Personally, I've been listening to TEEN TOP's songs since I was young.
His description of his art is very deep.
It can't be enough but i just wanna say thanks in advance for staying healthy there
You cant say kpop without the dark side of it. You cant escape the fact that they are fighting for their lives while entertaining you with their „perfect“ smiles.
*Mostly emphasized on dancing & looks* rather than talent. Being able to sing/rap. Thats why theres 6-9 in a *K-Pop* group. While there are *K-pop* groups that have members more talented than the others, *it’s more centered around being eye candy* 🍭🍬
These two look so common/average, yet so beautiful.
9:43 Wow, she is really pretty. One thing that stands out is that, in comparison to her group mate, she does not have veneers. Too many Idols are pressured to get obvious veneers that age them and give them an uncanny appearance.