Documentary Explores Diversity in the K-Pop Industry

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An Apple TV+ documentary series, “K-pop Idols,” debuting this Friday, provides an intimate glimpse into the demanding yet dazzling K-pop industry that continues to evolve and embrace diversity. This six-part series highlights the journey of Korean American star Jessi and rising K-pop groups such as Cravity and Blackswan, revealing both the triumphs and tribulations of their careers.

K-pop has gained worldwide acclaim for seamlessly fusing powerful vocals with meticulous choreography. This rigorous preparation is well-demonstrated by Blackswan members Fatou and Nvee, who shared that they practice up to 10 hours daily in preparation for the “comeback” season, which includes numerous events to promote their newest releases.

The path to K-pop stardom is notoriously grueling and starts at a young age. K-pop trainees under contract adhere to a strict regime that encompasses classes in manners, language, dance, and precise choreography. According to a 2022 Korea Creative Content Agency report, there were 752 K-pop trainees registered with various entertainment labels.

While there’s been some pushback against the longstanding “dark side of K-pop” narrative, the series reveals that several industry challenges persist. Former Blackswan member Youngheun disclosed that members faced strict curfews and were prohibited from drinking or dating. “We even had to report when we were getting our nails done and going to the convenience store in front of our house,” she shared in the series.

Another significant aspect is the rigorous dietary control imposed on K-pop idols. During her trainee period, Gabi from Blackswan is seen eating a diet of egg, chicken breast, and sweet potato sticks. “I am dieting because Mr. Yoon (the label’s head) told me I need to lose weight,” Gabi said. This stringent pressure extends to male groups as well. Cravity member Wonjin revealed he had only two weeks to lose sufficient weight to join the label, resorting to an extreme diet of a single egg per day, which led to a weight loss of about 7kg.

Bradley Cramp, one of the documentary’s executive producers, pointed out that such restrictions are not unique to K-pop. “I honestly don’t know one idol or elite sports athlete or entertainer that doesn’t deal with the issue of diet and self-image and mental health to some degree or another,” he remarked.

The documentary also tackles the evolving diversity within K-pop. Following BTS’ monumental international success, K-pop labels have keenly sought out foreign talents, presenting both opportunities and challenges. In the series, Yoon Deung Ryong, the founder of Blackswan’s label DR Music, is seen grappling with internal member conflicts that even spilled over to the online fan community. “If the company says, ‘Don’t fight,’ they won’t fight,” Yoon explained, referring to traditional K-pop groups. He added that handling a “multinational group” is more complex due to language and cultural differences. Notably, Blackswan currently does not have any Korean members following recent lineup changes.

These shifts raise fundamental questions about the identity of K-pop. “In a K-pop group, if there are no Korean members, I feel like it’s just a K-pop cover group, isn’t it?” posited former Korean Blackswan member Youngheun. However, Cravity’s Hyeongjun offered a different perspective: “If foreigners come to Korea and sing in other languages, I’m not sure if I can call that K-pop, but since they (Blackswan members) are active in Korea and use Korean, they are K-pop.”

Cramp highlighted the impact of social media on the K-pop ecosystem, creating a “symbiotic relationship” between K-pop stars and their fans. This digital age forces stars to lead their lives under constant scrutiny. “There’s a desire to be real. But on the other hand, you have to obviously keep certain things kind of out of the public spotlight,” Cramp noted. “You want to be famous, but yet at the same time, you still want your privacy and you want to be able to go and have dinner with your friends and have a good time and not be filmed doing it.”

“K-Pop Idols” is now available for streaming on Apple TV+.

Source: Associated Press