what does it take to be a kpop star

Strict Rules That K-Pop Singers Accept To Follow

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Co-ordinate to Vox, K-Pop is a "global phenomenon that brings billions of dollars to South Korea each yr. Launching its then-called "idols" into superstardom, K-pop allows performers who rise to the top of the highly competitive industry to earn the kind of fame and fortune that most people couldn't imagine. But that level of success comes at a cost — a cost that many would consider also high.

Those who choose the K-Pop life practice what it takes to please the people who purchase their albums, concert tickets, and every item of merch that's available. Eunice Chang, a production manager who is involved with One thousand-pop events, appearances, and concerts, told CBC News, "[Idols] volition practice everything, annihilation for their fans because that's the only reason for them to exist." Chang also noted that Thousand-Pop stars aren't likely to cause a fuss even when there's trouble. "[Due west]hen you are popular, y'all can not prove your weak side," she explained. "People volition say: 'Oh, you lot have everything. Why are you proverb that?' They get a little judgmental."

Jeff Benjamin, a Thou-Pop music columnist, told the CBC that even the term "idol" adds to an extreme level of expectation, saying, "Merely that give-and-take in itself gives the idea that they have to be perfect — they have to be the ideal standard of entertainer. That's a lot of pressure for a immature person." That pressure seems fifty-fifty more extreme when you observe out virtually the strict rules that Thou-Popular stars accept to follow.

You lot won't find K-Popular stars on Tinder

K-Pop fans similar their idols to be unmarried — and female person performers are preferably fully chaste — which is why they're not allowed to appointment. According to CNN, "some even having a 'no dating' clause in their contracts." Cracking Guys' Donghwi confirmed this, telling Insider, "We agreed not to have a girl in our lives, and so we can focus more on our mission."

Nevertheless, some stars naturally break this rule, like EXO'south Chen, who appear in January 2020 that he not just has a girlfriend but that she's pregnant and they're getting married. Although revealing those facts wasn't an easy job for the star. "I don't know how to commencement this, and I'one thousand very nervous," he wrote, according to Soompi. "I have a girlfriend I want to spend the residuum of my life with. I was worried and concerned nearly the situations that would arise as a result of this determination, but ... I couldn't lose any more time thinking well-nigh when or how I should announce this, so I mustered upwardly my courage."

Chen was right to think he needed courage considering the truth tin have serious consequences for K-Pop stars. CNN points out that "[due west]hen it was revealed artists HyunA and E'Dawn (shown higher up) were a couple last month, there was an aroused backlash from some apparently heartbroken fans, and the pair were subsequently suspended by their record label." So while the "no dating" rule may seem harsh, it may besides be justified.

K-Pop stars can't hang out with friends of the opposite sex

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The fact that K-Pop stars tin can't date may seem strict, merely that'due south non where this situation ends. Frankly, K-Pop stars aren't fifty-fifty supposed to acquaintance with people who don't share their gender. Erstwhile K-Pop creative person and current YouTube personality Grazy Grace confirmed this past revealing that if she was "caught ... lounging effectually and talking to the opposite sex, similar trainees and idols, [they] would always be separated." She even claimed that management companies would requite them dissimilar schedules and so that groups of guys and girls "would never come across each other or take any time to talk to each other."

While this might sound like another farthermost precaution, it's a dominion that's in place to appease fans who proved that they're serious about this situation in 2008 during a performance past Girls' Generation. While the grouping was on stage at an almanac show in Seoul, "the crowd created a 'black ocean,' refusing to wave lights and cellphones and staying silent throughout the band'south entire 10-minute performance, reportedly to protestation how close the group had become to the members of boyband Super Junior," according to CNN.

Jenna Gibson, a Korea specialist at the University of Chicago, told CNN, "In a perverse way, because fans put in then much endeavour to promote and publicize a skilful prototype of their idol, some of them go the idea that they should accept some say over the idol's deportment and personal life."

The appearance of K-Pop stars is advisedly managed

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K-Popular stars may comprehend headline-making colorful hair and signature styles of stage-worthy article of clothing, but each look has to exist approved — and is usually selected — by their management company. Changing things upwards without permission is non immune and will result in repercussions.

Granted, for most people, what they do with their appearance is their ain business organization but when it comes to K-Pop stars, their appearance is their management's business concern — literally. Bernie Cho, a Korean music industry executive, told CNN, "M-Pop music is a big business and K-Popular bands not simply endorse big brands only also go large time brands themselves. Equally a result, for improve or for worse, individuals in such bands are viewed as investments." And only like any other large investment, it's not wise to make drastic changes without serious consideration. That ways if BTS' Jungkook dyes his hair, information technology's a safe bet that his management knew about it well earlier his hairdresser whipped out the bleach.

If a K-Pop star did take their personal style into their own hands, it would mess up the carefully coordinated aesthetic of the typical K-Pop group, which depends on its adherence to the scene'south preferences. Not to mention that an unapproved makeover could potentially upset fans who tend to analyze (and freak out over) every tiny change. This is definitely not a situation where you tin express yourself without consequences coming at you lot from all sides.

K-Popular stars tin't have (visible) tattoos

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Function of keeping upwardly the proper expect for K-Pop stars ways no visible tattoos. Yes, plenty of scene idols accept their fair share of torso art, only the fact is that they're supposed to keep the ink under wraps as much as possible (that is unless they fill the function of the rebel in the group). For instance, there's a good chance that Mail Malone's many face tattoos wouldn't be tolerated by his management if the American rapper was a K-Pop performer.

In this example, the aesthetic rule isn't necessarily nearly fans' preferences only is instead well-nigh appeasing national media requirements. Inked explains, "While K-Popular stars are technically immune to have tattoos, Korean television has yet to catch up with the trends and there are laws banning the showing of tattoos on screen. This is why y'all and then often run into K-Popular artists such every bit Cake B's Taeil in oversized sweaters and roofing their tattoos with tape."

"Not merely that, but doctors are the only people who are legally immune to practise tattoos, which makes getting one from an artist is technically illegal in Korea," according toInked. Notwithstanding, the outlet also notes that "at that place are still plenty of [tattoo] artists working underground" if a Thousand-Pop star is inclined to risk some constabulary-breaking body art. Only even if they avoid a fine, they'll however have to deal with the other inconveniences and outcomes of opting for ink that's against the rules.

Staying in One thousand-Pop star shape isn't easy

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Staying fit isn't simply necessary for K-Popular stars to be able to handle their active onstage routines, it'southward also a requirement that they need to fulfill in order to satisfy those in charge. That's why performers work out — a lot. Great Guys' Ho Ryeong told Insider, "Gym, studio, bedroom — that'south my life circle." As the outlet observed, "It's a testament to the pressures of maintaining the intense beauty standards of the G-pop industry: idols must look and stay beautiful, young, and in good physical shape. That usually ends upward in severe diet and exercise regimes."

Way, a former member of Crayon Pop, also talked to Insider well-nigh the physical demands of beingness in a K-Pop group, describing the intense practices that she used to take part in by saying, "We used to dance with 4 kg (8.8 lbs) of sandbags on our feet for several days. Our teacher wanted us to go used to the sandbags, so without information technology our dances would await lighter [in the functioning]."

Metro notes that BTS also has a "grueling rehearsal routine" which "sees them practice for 12-fifteen hours a day." And that'southward not the lengthiest time K-Pop stars are willing to put in. According to i-D, "There are plenty of stories of trainees spending up to 20 hours a day practising; subsequently their trainers depart, they'll keep practising or studying through the nighttime."

Is the Chiliad-Popular star nutrition dangerous?

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One of the darker aspects of G-Popular is the use of strict — and potentially dangerous — diets to help them stay slim and in shape. In society to make sure that idols remain the desired size, performers know that their management will be checking in. "Your company may counterbalance y'all," Koreaboo explains. "If yous gain ane or two pounds, your managers volition hound you about your weight."

In an attempt to meet the body-related requirements, some singers rely on dangerous methods like using the Paper Cup Nutrition, according toInsider. A highly restricted meal-plan that consists of "nine paper cups — the size of the ones y'all'd notice by water coolers — worth of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables," the nutrition is reportedly promoted by users of "pro-anorexia forums." If extreme diets don't work some stars cease upwardly "starving" themselves, co-ordinate to the Korea Herald.

However, GreatGuys' Ho Ryeong told Insider that even though he tin can't eat what he wants when he wants, that's not usually an issue due to other priorities that K-Pop stars deal with. "Honestly, we don't have much time for eating. Nor are we costless to eat what we desire," he admitted. His bandmate, Jae I, added, "That'south the hardest part. It's not easy to follow a nutrition, but [I suppose] it'southward not impossible either." Information technology may non exist incommunicable, but it doesn't sound similar whatever fun, either.

K-Pop stars accept to act respectfully

In many countries, being a star means that you can indulge in the kind of gross and shady behavior that others would never go away with. But beingness a star from Korea means that you have to be respectful at all times.

"You must greet your elders and bow at a ninety-degree bending, and you must accept the time to bow perfectly," according to Koreaboo. "[Grazy] Grace recounts a time when she bowed with her easily in her winter coat's pockets, because it was common cold, and she was later on scolded for being disrespectful." i-D backs this up by noting that "an idol standing on an awards stage with their hands in their pockets [will receive] accusations of bad manners/arrogance."

This strict protocol is also why nearly performers aren't allowed to have personal online platforms that they run themselves. "Some agencies allow their artists to have social media accounts, but the picture show and caption are often micromanaged past managers who want to brand sure y'all don't ... send the wrong bulletin," Koreaboo explains.

Banana Professor of Pop Civilization in the Section of East Asian Studies of the University of Toronto Michelle Cho explains the reasoning behind the demand for respectful beliefs past telling CTV News, "[K-pop idols] are understood to accept a duty to the public to maintain high standards of morality and grapheme — this is because, in general, pop culture, equally a collective/mainstream culture, is supposed to accept an edifying impact on society."

Partying is non part of a K-Pop star's life

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When information technology comes to K-Pop stars, the "platonic idol has a moral record equally unblemished as his pores, eschewing drugs, gambling, and public misbehavior of any kind," according to Bloomberg. Bernie Cho, a Korean music industry executive, explained the bear on of an idol'south iffy actions, tellingCNN, "Scandals involving drinking [or] drugs ... not just make waves in the amusement news section but also the finance news department because many of the biggest Korean music direction companies are also publicly traded stocks on the Korean stock exchange. Sensational headlines tin can take a serious hit on the bottom line."

The expectation that One thousand-Pop stars will stay away from certain substances is too why BIGBANG'south T.O.P issued an amends when news broke in 2017 that he was being investigated by Seoul police over allegations that he had used marijuana, which is illegal in Korea, according to CNN. Taking to Facebook (via SBS) to take responsibility for his actions, the performer wrote that he had acquired "great thwarting and disturbance with a huge wrongdoing" and went on to say that he had "left an irreparable scar in everyone's hearts" and "deserve[d] to exist punished." He added, "My heart aches, and I am also very ashamed of myself. I will meditate and reverberate on [my mistake] again and once more. I will never make such an irresponsible mistake over again. ... I will deeply repent my wrongdoing." It sounds like his regret was plenty of a punishment.

K-Popular stars can't accept second jobs

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K-Popular stars at the superlative of the game may exist bringing in big bucks, simply many others are but barely managing to scrape past due to high costs and low pay. Unfortunately, rules in the scene mean that those who need to make extra cash are simply out of luck. Granted, trainees and rising performers don't actually have fourth dimension for a second job, only even if they want to have another source of income, they're not immune to because it'southward against the rules.

Koreaboo explains, "While this depends on which company you're with, nearly companies don't desire you to have a part-time job even though yous might non earn enough as a trainee or recently debuted artist." The BBC even states that "some of K-Popular's biggest success stories were congenital on the dorsum of and then-called slave contracts, which tied its trainee-stars into long sectional deals."

However, some people in the industry are trying to fight this unfair situation. Dong Bang Shin Ki even brought forth a lawsuit over what the group felt was an unfair contract. The group "took its management company to court, on the grounds that their thirteen-twelvemonth-contract was too long, too restrictive, and gave them almost none of the profits from their success," according to the BBC. Fortunately, the group won their case, which led "the Off-white Trade Committee to event a 'model contract' to endeavour to improve the deal artists got from their management companies."

K-Pop stars accept to let their direction check their cellphones

Non simply do K-Popular stars have to follow all of the strict requirements that their management companies demand, but they must also follow another dominion in order to prove that they're following the rest of the rules. To do this, performers have to be willing to hand over their cell phones so that their managers can take a expect at what they've been up to.

"Managements [can] always check your phone at whatsoever fourth dimension that they want," co-ordinate to Grazy Grace. That's why she says that singers in the scene have to be prepared to be grilled over any is establish — even if it's an innocent text message that might not be a problem in any other circumstance. Grace explains, "It could exist your friggin' uncle and they might question who information technology is." She also says that performers sometimes endeavour to delete "bear witness" that might get them in trouble, even so, those in charge stay ane step ahead by conducting spontaneous checks.

When something is constitute on a One thousand-Pop performer's telephone that breaks the rules, Grace says the visitor will punish them by either making them railroad train seven days a calendar week (as opposed to the usual six), put a security camera in front end of their dorm room, or take away their telephone. It certainly sounds like you shouldn't commence on the globe of Chiliad-Pop stardom unless y'all're willing and able to abide by some seemingly (overly or justifiably?) strict rules.

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Source: https://www.nickiswift.com/185498/strict-rules-that-k-pop-singers-have-to-follow/

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