When Kpop Steals Childhoods

Haeun (age 13)

Here are some of the many issues I have with minors being a part of the Kpop industry. It all starts when they are trainees. Many sign on very early, typically between the ages of 12-18. First of all, where are the parents? Anybody under the age 18 should not be making a life decision that could completely change the course of their lives (except for college). It seems as if these parents are non-existent, because who is letting their child become a trainee when they are still a minor? Even if they debut as an adult, they still are missing out on their childhood, social life, and education. Being a trainee is essentially a full time job. When are these kids being able to just be kids, spend time with friends, and explore their interests? They are forced to grow up so fast, and I'm sure it takes a toll on their mental health. Additionally, when it comes to education, companies do require that trainees finish high school which is good. However, (I don’t know for sure) it seems that not many are able to go to university afterwards. When you’re not signed to one of the big companies, there is no guarantee of success, so what happens when a group disbands, and an ex idol can’t get a good job because they don’t have a degree. Yes, they can always go to university then, but it really sets them back in life. Finally, there is also a problem with finances. Trainee debt is a real thing. How do you expect a kid to manage their finances well enough to pay it off with the miniscule paycheck they get as a rookie. My guess is that the parents make some sort of agreement with the company on how to pay it back, but again, it seems like these parents just don’t care, and if they do, they could have some ulterior motives. (I know this is probably the worst case scenario but you get what i’m saying). 

The problems don’t end with debut - they get worse.  We all know just how judgmental fans can be. Whether its commenting on their skills, appearance, personality, or relationships. Being in the public eye, especially as a kpop idol means that you are opening yourself up to public commentary. When kids are still developing, and their beliefs about themselves and the world are not yet developed, they are easily impressionable. Constantly being told what is wrong with them by strangers on the internet is going to take a toll on their self perception. I’m just going to let you know now that the rest of this paragraph is going to be random tangents. First, it is so weird when there are grown adult fans, thirsting over minors. It's actually disgusting. Please stop. Second, both idols and trainees should be provided with access to therapy, and if companies are afraid of their secrets getting out, they should have designated psychologists for the company. It's crazy how this isn't a thing with the amount of mental health crisis that idols go through. Third, if survival shows are planning on debuting the group a year later, the minimum age to audition should be 17 (just bringing this up since I'm watching Hip Hop Princess right now). Fourth, this is actually a good thing. I haven’t actually looked at the numbers, but I believe that the number of people signing up to be trainees is significantly dropping, and I think a lot of this has to do with social media, and the spread of information. It is now widely known that the treatment that idols face is absolutely horrible, and many idols go years without ever being paid. Thanks to social media, kids these days are a lot more aware of these issues, and that’s being reflected in how many people want to be trainees these days.

Side note: 

If you are a kid and you dream about becoming a kpop idol, going after your dream is not a bad thing. As long as you understand what you are getting yourself into, and you’ve thought through the alternatives.