First K-Pop Idol Union to Be Established, with Worker Status Recognition as the Starting Point

The country’s first “Idol Labor Union,” aimed at improving working conditions and protecting basic rights for K-Pop idols, is being pushed forward with a goal of launching by the end of this year. The “Idol Labor Union Establishment Preparation Committee,” led by Bang Min-soo (stage name Cap), former member of the idol group TEEN TOP, submitted an application for registration to the Seongnam Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor in September. On the 13th of last month, they filed additional documents to prove their status as workers. Over 10 current idols have expressed interest in joining. The preparation committee argues that idols must be recognized as workers under the Labor Standards Act because they perform labor at designated locations such as practice rooms and residences under the supervision of their agencies, following a set schedule, and receive continuous compensation in the form of settlement payments. They also cite restrictions on holding multiple jobs without agency approval, requirements to report changes in residence or contact information, and obligations to maintain communication as evidence supporting their worker status. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has previously maintained that idols are difficult to classify as workers. The current standard exclusive contract guidelines issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also define idols as “persons providing service tasks,” preventing them from falling under the coverage of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act or the Serious Accident Punishment Act. The preparation committee points out that idols suffer from industrial accidents such as musculoskeletal disorders, death from overwork, and mental illnesses due to long periods of practice, filming, and overseas activities. Yet they remain excluded from benefits like industrial accident insurance, the four major social insurances, and laws prohibiting workplace harassment because they are not recognized as workers. In 2023, Hani, a member of NewJeans, exposed workplace harassment during a live broadcast, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor concluded that it could not investigate since she was not considered a worker under the Labor Standards Act. The reality is that despite the clear labor reality of idols, they exist in a gray area where they are not legally protected. On the 6th of last month, the preparation committee submitted a petition requesting an investigation into HYBE’s practices such as song chart manipulation, plagiarism allegations, and suspected workplace harassment. They also filed a complaint with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, asking for an investigation into agencies that have caused idols to commit suicide, a review of whether mental health management and crisis response protocols exist, and a reevaluation of how worker status is interpreted in standard exclusive contracts. The preparation committee insists that most idols, except for those employed by large agencies, are in poor working conditions, and that the sole goal of the union is to secure recognition as workers so they can obtain minimum living expenses and legal rights. Professor Lee Jong-im from Sukmyung Women’s University stated that idols are workers who perform emotional labor, and that their rights as workers cannot be denied just because they are considered artists. In 2023, the Supreme Court recognized golf caddies, who are classified as special form labor workers, as eligible for protection under workplace harassment laws, suggesting that there may be a path to protection for those who work in a freelance capacity like idols.