Excessive Competition, Diet Obsession, and Cyberbullying Worsen Mental Health Crises Among K-POP Idols; Urgent Industry Restructuring Needed

Due to structural issues within the K-POP industry, idols are facing severe mental health crises. Experts and industry insiders point out that excessive competition starting from trainee days, unreasonable diet pressures, drug side effects, and cyberbullying combine to lead to depression and even suicidal choices. The K-POP industry has recently been shaken by several tragic incidents. In 2017, Jonghyun of SHINee took his own life after leaving a suicide note stating, “I’m broken inside. Depression, which slowly ate away at me, eventually swallowed me whole.” Sulli of f(x) committed suicide in October 2019 following online harassment and intense scrutiny of her personal life. In November of the same year, Goo Hara of KARA also ended her life amid physical and mental suffering caused by cyberbullying and past legal disputes. In December 2023, Lee Sun-kyun, the actor internationally known for the film “Parasite,” took his own life during an investigation into drug allegations. The main factors contributing to idols’ mental health crises have become clearly evident. The first is excessive competition that begins during trainee periods. Spending years in a system where candidates must pass tests weekly and face elimination turns every day into a struggle for survival, putting them under chronic stress. Rising cortisol levels—stress hormones—and excessive activation of the autonomic nervous system impair the brain’s emotional regulation functions, making depression more likely. The second factor is the obsession with dieting. Idols are under constant pressure to remain thin, with many companies monitoring weight daily. As a result, some trainees develop eating disorders, and in severe cases, menstruation stops for over a year. Many idols take diet pills known as “butterfly pills,” which suppress appetite, cause insomnia, and induce deep depression, severely harming mental health. The third factor is living a life behind a mask for extended periods. Idols must perform characters different from their true personalities on stage. For example, the group’s Maknae is expected to act as the cute and affectionate youngest member. Living as someone they are not for long periods eventually leads to the loss of their true self, increasing vulnerability to depression. The fourth factor is entering the adult world at a very young age. Most idols spend most of their time in practice rooms instead of attending regular school, missing out on crucial developmental stages. This lack of everyday experiences hinders healthy mental and emotional growth. The fifth factor is insufficient education. Idols only spend time in practice rooms and on stage, leaving them unprepared to navigate society after their activities end. As a result, many artists struggle after stopping their careers and may fall into other problems such as alcohol addiction. The sixth factor is hate comments and cyberbullying. Negative remarks posted on social media and forums directly harm idols’ mental well-being. Idols are evaluated almost daily regarding their image and skills, and such comments lower their self-worth and cause them to hate themselves. Many K-POP idols have committed suicide due to hate comments, yet legal measures and mental health support to prevent this remain inadequate. Experts have proposed several solutions to address this issue. First, agencies play a crucial role and must take care of artists’ physical and mental health simultaneously. They should support artists who are pushed by competition to recover mentally and physically by providing psychological counseling and rest time. Employee training is also essential; agency staff must receive thorough education to prevent verbal abuse and behaviors that cause mental distress. An education system after idol activities must also be established. Support for career development and social and emotional assistance systems should be strengthened to ensure their lives continue after their activities end. Additionally, hate comment response systems need to be enhanced, along with strict legal penalties and comprehensive artist protection systems.