Product Idols to take out... The other side of K-pop as seen through the 'mandatory labor after leaving Teen Top' cap

《Kim Jiwon's Kakao Talk》
The story of the day that is open and harsh. TenAsia reporter Kim Ji-Won criticizes entertainment industry issues with a tricky gaze.

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The health issue of idols has been consistently raised as a problem. Cap (real name Bang Min-soo) from the group Teen Top has given up being an idol and is earning money through manual labor. In the midst of the voices of criticism and support for him who previously exposed the dark side of K-pop culture, it is difficult to just ignore his criticism of the idol development process. There are formidable voices in the industry that we need to think about what needs to be changed for the sustainable development of K-pop.

The cap recently reported on his current situation through a video titled 'Idol singer who gets 70,000 won per day but is very happy now' through the YouTube channel 'All About Job'. Regarding the medicine on the side of the house, Cap said, "I've been taking sleeping pills for about 5 years. Working as an idol, I got stressed at some point and went to sleep every 2-3 days. Even when I drank, I couldn't sleep. Instead of cutting down on alcohol, I thought I should take sleeping pills." He continued, "The emptiness was bigger than the depression. Isn't it necessary to create another self? In a public place, you have to be a guest, not a cap. There is a big gap between being applauded as a cap and then returning home as a guest. The gap between them is filled. I felt empty without losing. Isn't there a lot of bad things happening in the entertainment industry?

Cap was currently earning money by mowing. The trunk was full of dust and dirt from mowing equipment and work clothes. The cap said, "This fits my aptitude better than a celebrity." "I earn more than 1 million won a month just by mowing. It takes a while,” he explained.

After finishing the work, Cap sweated profusely. He expressed pride, saying, “It is good to have even a trivial skill. People in the city do not know about mowing, but there are many necessary parts. It is a part that people need.” He also said, "It's not a special skill, but it pays much more than manual labor. Only construction sites are not manual labor, but almost all jobs involving the body are in the field of manual labor."

Cap said, "The job I think of is what I think of as a career. Mowing and leaving good reviews from customers is my career. To me, idols were manual labor. I didn't feel like I had a career left over, but emotional labor, physical labor. was," he said. When asked if it was much more rewarding now, he answered "yes" without delay. He said, "I would have earned a few hundred more per month as an idol than I do now, but that didn't matter anymore. 'You guys don't make a lot of money, take it. I'll give up and do what I want to do'. I'm happy." Emphasized.

Cap also talked about the rigorous idol preparation process. When I was a trainee, I had to practice one song for several months from 10 am to 10 pm. Later, it was said that he could go out even with his eyes closed. In order to create a 'sword choreography', the angle of the fingertips, flight time, and even the sound of footsteps had to be matched. If the company representative said he didn't like it, he had to do the same choreography 100 times with a camera. I couldn't even use my cell phone. Cap said, "From the moment you debut, you change from physical labor to emotional labor. From then on, the real life of an idol begins."

Recently, Cap also revealed the other side of idol life through his YouTube channel. He said, "The reason why I think the idol culture is getting sick is that friends who are preparing to become idols are constantly being brainwashed by the company. 'You shouldn't date,' 'You shouldn't smoke,' 'You shouldn't drink I'm constantly being brainwashed," he said, concerned. He also said, "XXX people are sexually harassed," and "male idols are also molested. There are also people who do their butt like this and their breasts like this. Mental starts to go out. Strange guys ask me to do anything special."

Cap's revelations may be disrespectful to the team he once worked for. However, it is hard to say that the appearance of earning money faithfully through healthy labor and the appearance of quitting a job that did not suit one's aptitude and finding a new job was wrong.

It is not uncommon for idols to stop activities due to health problems. Red Velvet Joy is not participating in the schedule and is working hard to recover her condition. Ive Ray received a medical check-up due to abnormal symptoms such as heart palpitations and stuffiness, and was diagnosed by medical staff as requiring treatment and stability. NCT Chenle was inevitably unable to attend the concerts in Manila and Singapore due to poor physical condition due to cold symptoms. SHINee's Onew announced a hiatus due to health issues ahead of a comeback commemorating the 15th anniversary of their debut. BLACKPINK Jennie was unable to attend the Melbourne concert in Australia to the end due to poor physical condition. SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan also decided to take a break from activities after being told by the medical staff that he needed rest and stability due to poor physical condition.

Irregular patterns, heavy schedules, small meals, unfounded rumors, and excessive mental stress are the reasons why idols suffer from health problems. Like Cap, Shinhwa Kim Dong-wan, HUB Louie, and Dia Somyi have revealed that they have taken sleeping pills. It gets to the point where you have to rely on drugs.

Cap recently announced his withdrawal, saying that the idol group's activities did not suit him. As the time of the cap's exposure coincided with the time of Teen Top's comeback, the cap was hit hard. This is because it negatively affects the members who are still active as Teen Top. However, Cap's revelation raises an alarm in the existing idol production system, which only evaluates idols as 'product value' and tries to 'shoot' stars. This is why you can't just criticize the cap indiscriminately. An idol's life is not long, and because of that, an idol who splits both body and mind. Now that the level of K-pop has risen to the point where it can be introduced to the global market, it is time to check whether the nurturing system is at a level that matches it.

Reporter Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia bella@tenasia.co.kr