Take a look at all your favorite Kpop celebrities. They probably have a lot in common, including their nationality, their range of skills, and even their superficial appearance. It seems, in general, most of these superstars are capable of remaining fit and healthy, despite being so busy they border on being overworked.
How is it that all these amazing, creative performers are able to stay healthy and fit?
It's Their Job
First, understand that from a certain perspective, it's the job of a celebrity to remain healthy and fit. Put yourself in their shoes. If you fall ill, you won't be able to perform, and if you're unable to perform consistently enough, you're either going to be replaced or your fans might abandon you. If your physical fitness declines, you might have trouble keeping up with new choreographic changes, your perceived attractiveness may decline, and you could see a proportional drop in your revenue.
In fact, if you're not already healthy and fit, you probably don't have much of a chance of becoming a star in this specific niche. The industry serves as a self-selecting filter, prioritizing people who are already healthy and in good shape.
They Have Ample Money and Resources
It's not true that every Kpop celebrity is absurdly wealthy. Some people don't make nearly as much money as you think they do, and some people are bad with their money, so they don't have much on hand. Still, if you've heard of them, there's probably a good reason for it, and they probably have a loyal audience of fans who are willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money engaging with them.
Accordingly, most of these celebrities have ample money and resources to deal with any health or fitness issues that arise for them. They can seek treatment from the best doctors in the world, hire the best personal trainers, and even work with private doctors and health coaches to come up with better strategies to maintain their health and fitness.
For example, let's say a major star develops a rare form of cancer. You might tap into a public healthcare system to provide you with adequate care, but if money is no object, you'll be in a position to get treatment from the best experts money can buy. This puts celebrities in a unique position of being able to both access and afford better care.
They Have Managers and Robust Networks of Connections
Similarly, these stars typically have managers and robust networks of connections. If they run into any problems related to their health and fitness, they can tap into their network and find someone who can help them. A friend of a friend is only a phone call away, and with a big enough network, you can eventually reach almost any conceivable expert.
South Korean Healthcare Is Well-Regarded
Healthcare in South Korea is universal, with additional privately funded healthcare; it's currently rated as the second-most efficient healthcare system in the world. That means most people in South Korea have access to better than average healthcare - and on top of that, South Korean culture encourages health and fitness generally. Most people in the country do their best to take good care of themselves, and those who run into health or fitness problems can usually deal with them swiftly.
Incidental Exercise
Physical exercise is one of the best ways to maintain your health and fitness overall, and Kpop celebrities usually get a lot of it. Singers and dancers do a lot of physical work, spending countless hours practicing choreography and performing on stage in front of thousands of people at a time. If your job forces you to exhaust your muscles and burn calories, fitness is going to be a natural byproduct.
The Caveats
Of course, there are a few caveats to this high-level analysis.
- Health is complex. Health is a complex topic, as is fitness. While many of these celebrities look superficially healthy and fit, that doesn't mean it's necessarily the case. In fact, some celebrities may work hard to cover up whatever health and fitness issues they have, or may not be aware of underlying health issues that are affecting them.
- Not all celebrities are healthy. It should also be obvious that not all celebrities are healthy. Some people are able to maintain a healthy weight and continue performing well thanks to substances or practices that gradually ebb away at their health.
- Fame can take its toll. Highly creative and famous people have somewhat lower life expectancies than their more average peers. They must deal with excessive pressure - and are sometimes introduced to unhealthy habits.
It shouldn't be surprising to see so many Kpop stars staying healthy and fit, even from a superficial level. These are just some of the factors that have created and continually reinforced this pattern.
