Former Teen Top member Bang Min-su, professionally known as C.A.P, has been named to lead the preparatory committee for what could become South Korea's first labor union specifically designed for K-pop idols and entertainment industry workers. The groundbreaking initiative represents a significant step toward addressing longstanding concerns about artist rights and workplace conditions in the country's massive entertainment industry.
Bang's talent agency, Moden Berry Korea, announced on Friday that the performer is currently serving as chairman of the Idol Labor Union Preparatory Committee, which is working toward an official launch before the end of 2025. The committee has already taken concrete steps toward establishing the union, having submitted its official establishment report to the Seongnam branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor in September.
The proposed union has already attracted considerable interest from industry professionals, with more than 10 idol performers reportedly expressing their intention to join the organization. Among the confirmed participants is popular singer Ailee, who has publicly announced her support for the union effort. The preparatory committee has also enlisted outside expertise, with Seo Min-seon, a research fellow at the Democratic Party's Youth Policy Research Institute, overseeing the group's overall preparation process and public outreach campaigns.
The union's organizers have outlined specific areas where they believe the entertainment industry needs standardized protections for performers. In an official statement, the preparatory committee emphasized that entertainment agencies should be required to implement consistent protocols designed to protect performers' mental health and legal rights. These proposed standards would include proper procedures for responding to malicious online comments directed at artists, providing support for legal action and content deletion requests, and establishing clear protocols for notifying guardians when artists experience psychological distress.
Additionally, the union advocates for systematic connections between artists and professional medical or counseling services during times of mental health challenges. These proposals reflect growing awareness of the intense pressures faced by K-pop performers, who often deal with demanding schedules, public scrutiny, and online harassment throughout their careers.
Bang Min-su brings significant industry experience to his leadership role, having debuted in 2010 as a member of the successful boy group Teen Top. The group achieved considerable commercial success with hit songs including "No More Perfume on You" and "To You," establishing Bang as a recognizable figure in the K-pop landscape. After departing from Teen Top, Bang signed an exclusive management contract with Moden Berry Korea in 2025, positioning himself to advocate for industry reform from within the entertainment system.
The formation of this labor union represents a potentially transformative moment for South Korea's entertainment industry, which has faced increasing scrutiny over working conditions and artist welfare in recent years. If successfully established, the union could set important precedents for how K-pop agencies and management companies interact with their performers, potentially influencing industry practices beyond South Korea's borders as the global influence of K-pop continues to expand.
