WATCH — From trainee to idol: How teens become K-pop stars
Young trainees face long, hard working hours
Every week, CBC Kids News takes a deep dive into a topic that’s been making headlines. Click the video above or below for this week’s KN Explains.
K-pop stars are known for having tons of fans around the world.
But how do they go from star hopefuls to star idols?
Many began training to be idols when they were in their teens or younger.
Ainara Alleyne takes us behind the scenes of the K-pop machine to see how stars are made.
Trainees and idols work long hours
Before an idol can debut, most go through years of challenging training.
“We've heard about things where the artists themselves are practising huge amounts of hours per day [and] going on really intense diets,” said Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who covers K-pop, in an interview with CBC Kids News.
Critics have raised concerns about the working and training conditions of young K-pop entertainers.
To address some of those concerns, in April, South Korea passed a bill that will add new legal protections for K-pop trainees and idols. The bill added new rules to the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.
The changes are inspired by the legal battle between singer and actor Lee Seung-gi and his former agency, Hook Entertainment. Lee claims Hook didn’t pay him properly for 18 years.
Watch the video below to find out how K-pop stars are made and the reasons some say young entertainers need more protection.
KN Explains: K-pop idol training ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Jean Chung/Getty Images, graphic design by Philip Street/CBC
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