Do idols' contracts state a dating ban? How can you track that artists are in a relationship? In a broadcast, second-gen idols Super Junior Heechul, Girls' Generation Hyoyeon and former SISTAR Soyou talked about prejudices against idol's romantic life.
Soyou, Hyoyeon Clarify Prejudice Against Dating Between Idols
The trio appeared as guests on "Dolsing Fourmen," which aired on the afternoon of July 5. This year, they are on their 18th, 15th, and 12th year as veteran idols, respectively.
During the broadcast, the three then answered questions about the idol life everyone had been curious about.
Starting with the topic of dating, Soyou opened up that there is a misconception about dating between idols.
"If we go to a K-pop overseas concert together, we (male and female idols) will share a hotel. Then, there are people asking if there are idols who are dating there. Of course, some people do, but it is not what you think."
"Basically the number of floors between men and women is different. There are bodyguards on each floor, too."
Soyou implied that although there are idols who are secretly dating in the same hotel, they can't easily meet together due to the floor division and bodyguards.
Hyoyeon further shared how to track dating between idols and said:
"There are cases like this. If you turn on the airdrop, you can see that there's a man on the women's floor. There was a time when a male member appeared on the women's floor. The manager once caught an idol relationship through this (method). I will try it when I got to the SM concert."
Heechul Talks About 'Idol's Law,' Dating Taboo
As the conversation went on, Heechul answered the inquiry about whether the ban on idol relationships was stated in the contract. Kim Heechul replied:
"Idols have idol laws. There are things you must never break. Excessive humility is essential. There is an exemplary answer to what one says and does.
For example, when someone is asked who their favorite celebrity is, they had to talk about Yoo Jae Suk and Kang Hodong.
ALSO READ: Hyoyeon, Soyou Reveal Anecdote With Heechul Teasing Idol's Past Relationship
In fact, Heechul also shared one time when his love story was edited due to idol's dating taboo during his debut days. Heechul claimed:
"Do you know how much idols have to be self-conscious? I can't date, I can't fight openly, and I have to post only good things on social media."
Heechul narrated that during a broadcast guesting, he confessed that he had a relationship for the first time when he was 22 years old. But he said that that part had never been on the broadcast.
"It turned out that the managers blocked it."
Following the broadcast, he approached SM's founder Lee Soo Man and vented his frustrations, saying:
"I'm already 23 years old, why can't I be honest about my relationship on TV?"
At that time, Lee Soo Man decided that Kim Heechul's honest charm could be a character, and it was his strength. This is when he was finally allowed to show his honest charm in entertainment programs.
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Written by Eunice Dawson