K-POP Idol Labor Union Set to Launch Soon This Year, With Around 10 Artists Including Ailee Joining

The “Idol Labor Union,” aimed at protecting the rights of K-POP idols and other popular culture artists, is expected to be established within the current year. On the 7th, the “Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Idol Labor Union” submitted an application for registration to the Seongnam Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor in September last year. On the 13th of last month, it submitted additional documents at the labor agency’s request to strengthen its status as workers. Bang Min-soo, formerly of the group TEEN TOP and known by his stage name CAP, serves as the committee chairman, while Seo Min-seon, a research fellow at the Democratic Party’s Youth Policy Institute, is in charge of external publicity. It is reported that around 10 current idols, including singer Ailee, have expressed interest in joining. The committee believes approval for establishment could come as early as this month. The union’s key priorities include eliminating gaps in industrial accident compensation, expanding coverage under the four major insurance types, and securing recognition of “worker status” to apply labor laws such as the anti-harassment in the workplace law. After its launch, improving working conditions for idols and establishing systems for psychological and human rights protection will be its main goals. The committee sent a formal request to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism titled “Survey on Mental Health Management and Measures Against Toxic Comments for Idols and Popular Culture Artists, along with Requests for System Improvements.” It called for the development of standard manuals outlining proper responses from agencies, such as legal action, deletion requests, and support for filing complaints when faced with harmful comments, as well as procedures for notifying guardians and connecting with medical services when risk signs arise, along with managing counseling records. The request also included demands for improvements to existing systems. It pointed out that the Ministry’s “Standard Exclusive Contract for Popular Culture Artists” defines artists as “persons providing service work,” which makes it difficult to apply the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act and the Act on Punishment of Serious Accidents, and urged the creation of new guidelines for interpreting such contracts. Additionally, the committee submitted a petition to the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Agency requesting the revocation of HYBE’s “Top Company” certification, and also filed a complaint with the Korean Copyright Protection Agency urging the industry as a whole to implement psychological support manuals and improve human rights protections.