NJZ (NewJeans) made a statement in a BBC News interview, expressing that there are problems within the K-pop industry. They said, “The agencies tend to view artists more as products than as actual human beings.”
These are issues that the members of NJZ (NewJeans) have consistently raised in the past.
A quick search reveals many comments such as “Aren’t idols just like products that are launched?” This kind of mindset is not only prevalent among some Koreans but even among the general public.
Moreover, Minji’s mother claimed that Source Music advised Minji to quit school and drop out of high school during her trainee period. She also stated that Minji was left without a concrete plan for her debut group and was neglected for several years. There were also repeated instances of working past 2 AM.
Danielle also shared that during her trainee days, she had to report every time she went to the bathroom during her break, and had to send a picture of the food she would eat before every meal.
While writing this, I found information about human rights issues involving idol trainees, such as verbal abuse, physical violence, and sexual harassment.
Some media and people in Korea are accusing NJZ (NewJeans) of making “anti-Korean remarks” over their BBC News interview.
The K-pop industry has achieved great success globally, but underlying issues such as excessive control, interference, fierce competition, and extreme dieting certainly exist.
To label the raising of these issues as “anti-Korean” would imply that the problem is something Korea can never fix, or that it is not a problem in Korea at all. Or, are we supposed to say that it is Korea’s unique cultural identity and tradition?
Isn’t that, in fact, the true “anti-Korean” sentiment?
If we dismiss criticism aimed at fixing the trainee system in Korea as “anti-Korean,” how can we criticize the discrimination Koreans face abroad, or gender-based issues like forced hijab wearing or initiation rituals in other countries?
By acknowledging the problems within the currently successful and proud K-pop industry and working toward their improvement, we can make K-pop something that the whole world can truly be proud of.
