KOREAN POP

        Industry leaders are ambitious - Korean stars are beating a path to Japan, America and Europe. This month, South Korea's biggest production company, SM Entertainment, held its first European concert in Paris, part of a year-long world tour. On the darker side of K-Pop, people will see how the contracts idols must sign, populary known as "slave contracts," which ties the person to the company with the focus primarly on gaining money with little compensation to the singer. “A director for DSP says they do share profits with the group, but admits that after the company recoups its costs, there is sometimes little left for the performers. ”Money seems to drive everything in the K-Pop scene as a lot of the perfomers are pressured into looking flawless and this feeds into South Koreas ever growing plastic surgery market." Perfection comes at a cost for most idols, especially when it's part of the contract. 

        The International Rise of the Korean Music Industry, tells news.com.au: “The fashion, the hair, the clothes, the style — these things are not always attainable. Probably 95 percent of performers have had surgery.“It’s mainly the face: the jawline, noses, eyelids, lips ... It can be a significant difference." This doesn't only affect the female perfomers, but also the male ones- as they are also marketed as "eye candy" and just like female stars, are also sexualized. If the pressure to be near perfect doesn't come from the companies, it will come directly from "Sasaengs," or “private fans." Sasaengs are seen to be some of the most uncharismatic, rude, and unforgiving fans. These fans will go as far as installing cameras in and around their idols home, and even break into their homes to steal kisses from them as they sleep. 

        One K-Pop trainee did an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on reddit, and was asked things like: "Q: What were some of the most ridiculous rules, requests, or suggestions you were given?" Her response was: "A: No relationships, diets, no phones, no allowances, no time with the outside world. Haha. But this is quite common with all companies." Other questions were similar: "Q: I've heard that record companies in the K-pop industry takes huge portions of profits made while the artists themselves are incredibly under-paid. Is there truth to this claim?" "A: Not speaking about the company I was in.. but yes." These examples are just a glance into the K-Pop industry. As entertainment companies try to hide behind their idols, dedicated fans who speak up for their idols health, wage earning, and social life are the ones who show that some good can come out of the industry with the power of their voice.