South Korean music artists have huge support and following from all over the world, but the stress and anxiety of the K-pop industry and the excessive bashing they receive on different social networking sites are taking a serious impact on these stars.
More ofthen, the icons of South Korea's widely influential K-pop music sector are fresh-faced and youthful talents in their early twentys. They are rookies who foster coyly sexual yet wholesome, good-natured appearances.
But the truth behind all the appearances and performances is much deeper and darker as several artists are dealing with high levels of anxiety and other mental health issues which have devastating consequences.
A recent string of alleged celebrity suicide deaths, along with numerous criminal allegations, have uncovered an industry that is underbelly with exploitive demands, intense media attention, and brutal online harassment that takes on the artists' mental toll.
Giving Up Their Normal Lives For A Shot For Fame And Fortune
Dal Yong Jin, the co-author of K-Pop Idols: Popular Culture and the Rise of the Korean Music Industry, said Cha In-ha's demise is part of a much larger negative trend in Korea's entertainment business, wherein the K-pop scene is by far the most challenging and demanding.
Although he emphasized that each person is faced with different issues, artists experience widespread socio-cultural difficulties that can lead to depression, a suicidal trigger.
"This means that the Korean entertainment business has not built working environments that are socially appropriate and pleasant," he informed DW via email.
Potential idol entertainers, a term that is often used to apply to popular K-pop artists, are handpicked by promising talent companies while they are in their teenage years and undergo intense dance and singing training.
"As they have to remain most of the day in apartment-like houses or rooms and needed to be trained for more than 10-13 hours a day, they have little to no chance to develop and express their own opinions and thoughts." Jin elaborated, stating that, as young people, would-be idols abandon their education and basically their lives.
Is social media helping or hurting?
K-pop artists endure unremitting media attention, too. Although the rise of the internet and social media has provided artists direct exposure to fans, helping them to maintain their open and friendly images, they have also been subjected to negative comments and hateful attacks that impact physiological health.
"Social networking sites are among the most important aspects of K-pop production, both domestically and globally. For starters, contrary to J-pop [from Japan], the Korean entertainment industry has taken full use of social networking sites to publicize the activities of its new music materials and celebrities to connect with fans," Jin stated.
He defined a self-regulating K-pop industry that limits its artists in order to prevent any part of society from being its targets. Stars who talk about subjects like feminism and LGBT are facing possible criticism and cyberbullying. "Some celebrities show their distress that comes from these stressful and toxic environments," Jin concluded.
Necessary Practical Mechanisms
Although the recent series of K-pop deaths and suicide attempts has brought considerable exposure to the music industry, Pastreich reacted in October by stressing out that high-profile self-destructive events involving South Korean actors and singers have spread over the past couple of years.
Considering the recent negative articles, Jin claims circumstances have generally changed somewhat through the Korean Government's actions.
But he emphasizes that many more still needs to be done: "The entertainment sector and community must work with each other to establish concrete strategies to help celebrities and artists. That implies they have to consider the challenges Idol trainees and participants encounter or experience before they get any drastic results."
