The Dark Side of K-Pop: Foreign Trainees Vulnerable to Exploitation
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/28th July 2024
With K-pop’s global rise, talent agencies are increasingly seeking promising individuals from outside South Korea, aiming to transform them into international stars. While this trend has opened doors for aspiring artists worldwide, it has also exposed many foreign trainees to manipulation and exploitation within the industry.
Young and impressionable, these trainees often find themselves in a vulnerable position when they relocate to Korea to chase their dreams. They look to the adults around them—managers and teachers—for guidance and support. Unfortunately, these same trusted figures can sometimes exploit the trainees’ naivety and unfamiliarity with the local culture. A high-profile example of this is the case of Blackpink’s Lisa.
In 2020, Lisa, a member of the globally acclaimed group Blackpink, was at the peak of her career. She was not only dominating the music charts but also making significant strides in the fashion industry by collaborating with luxury brands. With substantial earnings, Lisa sought advice on how to invest her money wisely. Trusting her long-time manager, who had been with her since her debut, she turned to him for guidance.
However, instead of helping her make sound investments, Lisa’s manager swindled her out of over 1 billion won. The manager, leveraging his connections and trust within both Blackpink and their label YG Entertainment, deceived Lisa by claiming he would investigate real estate opportunities on her behalf. Instead, he squandered her money on gambling.
This betrayal was particularly egregious because the manager was not a new figure in the industry. He was well-regarded within YG Entertainment and among the Blackpink members. Lisa, being the first foreign idol to debut under YG Entertainment, seemed to have been targeted because of her status as a non-Korean. An official from YG Entertainment noted, “Lisa is a foreign member and has been in Korea by herself since she was young, so she is very vulnerable to these things. It is very unfortunate that these things happen in the industry. This is a serious situation that can damage the domestic management’s image.”
Although Lisa managed to settle the matter amicably, likely due to her long-standing relationship with the manager, the incident highlighted a significant issue within the K-pop industry: foreign idols are particularly susceptible to exploitation. This vulnerability is not unique to Lisa but is a common risk for many international trainees who enter the high-stakes world of K-pop.
The industry has a dark side, with other examples of mistreatment and manipulation. The case of Blackpink’s Lisa serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by foreign artists in K-pop. These young talents, driven by dreams of stardom, must navigate a complex and often harsh industry landscape, where trust can be easily betrayed.
In conclusion, while the global popularity of K-pop continues to soar, it is crucial to address and mitigate the risks that foreign trainees face. Ensuring their protection and well-being should be a priority for talent agencies and the industry as a whole. Only by doing so can K-pop truly become a safe and inclusive space for all aspiring artists, regardless of their nationality.
