Some may view K-Pop with a pair of rose-colored glasses. However, there is another side to the glitz and glam… The grit and glam. It is the side with sweat, tears, and sacrifice that we often don’t see. Hence, K-Pop idols are admirable for the amount of effort they have put into achieving their dreams. Today, we’re going to take a look at the journey that K-Pop idols embark on from a young age; including what it takes to be a K-Pop idol and the hardships that come with trainee life and debuting. “Because the K-Pop market has expanded so much, I know that a lot of people want to become idols. But many times people only see the good side. There’s so much sacrifice and hard work that you don’t see. I want people to know about those things more. I hope they don’t aspire to be idols by just looking at the glamorous side.”
- Crayon Pop’s Way The K-Pop industry is often seen as a treasure chest filled with dazzling jewels. Each comeback is fancier than the last and idols only seem to be getting more and more talented. Despite this, as the famous expression goes, “Remember that diamonds are created under pressure.” The road from trainee to idol is not easy. Trainees often endure long training periods with little to no guarantee of making it. It takes an iron mentality to work consistently on a dream that you are not sure you will achieve. It is a well-known fact that most companies do not debut all of their trainees. In fact, in a 2020 survey published by Jang SeobYoon, it was revealed that more than 40% of entertainment agencies debut less than 60% of their trainees. Alternatively, only 20% of entertainment agencies debut more than 90% of their trainees. It is definitely an uncertain path that takes bravery to face. There are quite a few commonly known struggles/obstacles on this path. Let’s take a look at some of the issues dealt with by trainees that often carry over into their life after debuting.
Exhaustion, Uncertainty, & Relevance
One such example is the pressure to constantly practice, even if it is to the point of exhaustion. Many idols have mentioned cases of experiencing insomnia, sleep apnea, or even sleep deprivation as a result of long practice hours and/or stress. On the 2017 show “IDOL Drama Operation Team”, some of the most popular female K-Pop idols at the moment spoke about their struggles during their trainee days and currently as active idols. Here are some of the hardships that they mentioned: Even after the practice has paid off and they have debuted, idols often find themselves starting another battle to prove their skills after debuting. Idols are under huge pressure to stay relevant as more and more groups debut each day. This is also applicable to their trainee period. From a company’s perspective, only the best can debut, which means that somebody might have to be let go. Red Velvet’s SeulGi once mentioned that she had anxiety about the fact that pretty and talented idols kept debuting every day, giving her anxiety about her idol career. In response to this, Jeon SoMi added that during her trainee days, she would often find trainees crying, only to hear that they have been cut from the trainee program. This gave her anxiety about the fact that she might be on the receiving end of the cut one day and unable to debut. Even idols who are known for being especially vibrant and cheerful have spoken up about their concerns regarding being successful idols. Brave Girls is one of the most buzzworthy groups at the moment, having made a comeback to the K-Pop world through the unprecedented reverse trending of their hit song ‘Rollin’’. One of their members YuJeong is especially known for her bright persona. However, in a recent episode of the reality show “Diet”, she spoke up about her anxieties. Considering their reverse trend which took place years after their debut, the group’s average age is around 30 years old. In society, this is not considered ‘old’ at all. However, in K-Pop, some companies do not think the same way. These days, idols as young as 13 or 14 are debuting, which means that even veterans might be put under pressure by their companies to stay as relevant as they were/are at the peak of their careers. On the show, YuJeong spoke about how she doesn’t think that the lifespan of an idol lasts very long. “It seems like I need to find a path that I can take alone… However, I’m not really sure how to do that. My members are probably thinking the same thing. If Brave Girls is over then it feels like my life will be over, too. I feel like it will go back to before when I didn’t have work. In that case, what am I supposed to do?”
- Brave Girls’ YuJeong An idol’s hardships don’t end after they debut or after they have reached the peak of their success. Many idols struggle to find a path for themselves after their idol journey has either come to an end or changed (e.g. in the case of going from being a group member to a soloist). Many people can easily relate to the struggle of trying your best to achieve a certain dream and wondering what the next step is once you have achieved it and it is time to move on.
Image-building and maintenance
Trigger Warning: The following paragraphs contain mention of eating disorder-related conditions and/or behaviors. Idols are also under immense strain to maintain a certain image. A common theme when they speak about their trainee days and even active idols days is ‘dieting’. Companies sometimes impose weight quotas (a certain amount of weight one must lose by a certain time) and weight restrictions on idols. Whereas some might see this as harmful thinking, some companies see the inability to maintain a certain weight as a lack of determination. A number of idols have shared stories about having to eat certain foods that were not part of their diet in the bathroom, whilst hiding from staff, too. They were often scolded if they got caught and had to follow strict diets. Some have even mentioned being able to drink water before weigh-ins or performances because it adds water weight and causes bloating. Although idols are glamorized for their style and appearance, maintaining these strict beauty standards (regardless of what it takes) can be directly tied to the glam aspect of it.
Loneliness due to restrictions on interpersonal relationships
Many idols have mentioned the loneliness that comes with the job. In a 2016 episode of “Hello Counselor”, the BTOB members shared how the anxieties and insecurities that come with being an idol feel like walking on a tightrope. They shared that because of the flashy nature of the job, those who are outside the profession tend to misunderstand what it is really like. This makes it somewhat of a lonely profession. However, thankfully, the relationship between members in a group tends to make things better. You can watch a snippet of the show here. Similarly, it is well-known that idols were/are restricted when it comes to their interpersonal relationships. This does not only apply to dating bans which are common knowledge, but also to relationships with their family. Idols have mentioned not being allowed to see their families without asking permission from their company first. In one instance, Crayon Pop’s Way spoke about how her father came to surprise her for her birthday at their company but was turned away. Cases like these are quite unfortunate, however, there is some saving grace. Thankfully, in the case of groups, fans can find comfort in the family-like bond formed between the members. To get a full idea of what idols go through, encompassing all of the above points, you can watch this documentary called “Lives of Idols: Final Assessment”. It features the debut process that STAYC had to undergo, including how not all of the trainees who were aiming to debut as part of the group made it. Idols such as f(x)’s Amber Liu, g.o.d’s Joon Park, KARA’s Han SeungYeon, and more also speak about the image and expectations that idols have to maintain and live up to. These include topics such as dating, dieting, etc.
The silver lining: looking back at the winding path
Idols often realize their dreams and start working towards them at an early age. It is an investment of time and often a journey of sacrifice. However, despite all of the hardships, it can still be a very rewarding career. Let’s take a look at one idol as a case study. TRI.BE’s leader SongSun realized her dream in the 6th grade. She realized that she enjoyed singing and dancing, and thus wanted to become a singer. She was a trainee for 9 years. “I didn’t know that this path would be so difficult at the time. There is no time limit or deadline so it was frustrating to do without knowing. You just keep practicing endlessly for the sake of debuting.”
- TRI.BE’s SongSun She pursued her dream with no end in sight, hoping that one day her hard work would pay off and she would be able to debut. SongSun mentions that at times people would wonder why she was chasing this dream for so long. In this powerful advert by Shinhan Bank (a well-known bank in Korea), SongSun was able to visually see her efforts pay off. They prepared an AI version of her younger self who expresses how much joy dancing and singing bring her. Her younger self asks her how life is going and whether she has debuted. She also cheers adult SongSun on, telling her not to give up her dream no matter how hard it is. The video doesn’t have subtitles but you can watch it below and get the gist of the message. Watching SongSun’s emotions rise to the surface is a true visual representation of how much the opportunity to debut and long career journey means to an idol. The success of their career is proportionate to how much effort they put into achieving their goals, and it is awe-inspiring to see. It must feel especially rewarding to look back and see the fruits of their labor. Despite all of the struggles that idols face during their trainee years, the majority of them believe that the difficult path is worth it. “Though there was a lot of pain, sadness, and darkness throughout my past 10 years; there are also a lot of times that I was very happy and I was laughing a lot. I have bonds with people that can never be broken. If I didn’t go through what I already went through, I don’t think that I’d be the person I am today. I never want to change that.”
- f(x)’s Amber Liu What do you think of some of the hardships that idols have to face? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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