A shocking new investigative book has revealed the harsh realities behind South Korea's globally successful K-pop industry, exposing how the system that produces internationally beloved stars takes a devastating toll on young performers. The book details alarming health consequences, including the claim that eight out of ten female trainees stop menstruating due to extreme conditions.
The investigative work, titled "K-pop, Idols in Wonderland," was written by journalist Jeon Da-hyeon and provides an in-depth examination of the structural problems within Korea's idol-making system. Drawing from extensive research, the book is based on interviews with more than 40 industry insiders, including current and former trainees, established idols, music producers, talent agency executives, industry critics, legal experts, lawmakers, and dedicated fans.
While the K-pop training system initially appears to resemble a rigorous arts education program that identifies talented youth early and provides comprehensive training in singing, dancing, and stage performance under organized management, Jeon argues that this polished exterior conceals a deeply exploitative structure. The journalist draws troubling parallels between idol training systems and authoritarian cultural institutions, specifically comparing aspects to North Korea's Moranbong Band recruitment process.
According to Jeon's analysis, unlike communist states that lack the institutional maturity to produce globally successful cultural products, Korea's model operates by confining minors within a restrictive system that masquerades as professional training. This system, while producing international stars, often comes at the expense of the young people trapped within it.
The book contains disturbing testimonies from industry insiders that reveal the extreme physical and psychological toll on trainees. One agency official made the shocking claim that "eight out of ten female trainees stop menstruating," attributing this alarming statistic to severe dietary restrictions and extreme weight control measures that cause lasting damage to their developing bodies. The investigation also uncovered evidence of psychological manipulation used to pressure trainees into unnecessary cosmetic surgery procedures, with some young people becoming so altered that they struggle to recognize their own faces.
Beyond the physical and psychological abuse, the book documents how trainees routinely suffer from various physical disabilities as a result of their training conditions. Educational opportunities are systematically sacrificed, with many young people abandoning traditional public schooling to accommodate demanding training schedules that often extend throughout the day and night.
Perhaps most troubling is the book's finding that even those fortunate enough to successfully debut and achieve fame and recognition rarely gain any meaningful power or control within the industry structure. This suggests that the exploitative conditions continue even after achieving what appears to be success.
In its concluding chapters, the book addresses ongoing systemic problems including unfair financial settlement practices embedded in exclusive contracts that bind performers to their agencies. Jeon also examines the growing issues of malicious online comments directed at performers and coordinated reverse viral campaigns designed to damage artists' reputations and careers.
Jeon calls for the implementation of stronger legal safeguards and protective measures to ensure a safer working environment for both established idols and trainees in the system. The journalist emphasizes that these young people exist in a particularly vulnerable legal gray area, as they are classified neither as traditional employees with standard labor protections, nor as business partners with negotiating power, nor as independent contractors with autonomy over their work conditions.
