K-POP Stars Suffer from Anorexia and Body Shaming as Industry Human Rights Issues Come to Light

South Korea’s K-POP industry is facing international scrutiny over extreme body control and human rights violations. Five renowned female singers who appeared in last year’s documentary “Bodymentary” revealed their struggles with anorexia, extreme dieting, and body shaming, sparking widespread attention. The singers included Kim Wan-sun, Soyou from SISTAR, Han Seung-yeon, and Gong Yoo, who testified about the deterioration of their mental and physical health due to the music industry’s obsession with body images. In particular, Hwasa of MAMAMOO detailed her experiences that led to anorexia and depression. Their courageous disclosures and the broadcasters’ responsible handling of the content received extensive praise. Meanwhile, structural exploitation of K-POP trainees has also come to light. A Japanese woman named Miyu (a pseudonym) who enrolled in a K-POP training academy in Seoul in 2024 paid 19.8 million won per month (approximately 14,500 pounds) for a six-month program. The weekly auditions promised never took place, and classes were infrequent. In an interview with the outlet, Miyu stated, “I was told I would receive advanced dance and vocal training as well as opportunities to audition for major music programs, but everything turned out to be a lie. I pursued my dream of becoming an idol, but it feels like I was scammed.” She also alleged sexual harassment by senior staff, and two other trainees at the same academy reported similar abuses. This academy is classified as an entertainment institution under the Ministry of Culture, meaning it is not subject to South Korea’s education laws. As one of the approximately 5,800 institutions under the ministry, it has very limited regulatory authority. A local official told the outlet that the academy’s training programs are not subject to regulation or inspection. The issue of extreme training practices in the K-POP industry is becoming more apparent. For example, Michael Wu, a student at Stanford University, recounted witnessing his friends perform repetitive dances for over two hours in the Sino-Korean survival competition show “Starlight Boys,” nearly collapsing from exhaustion. “My friends danced over 20 times until they collapsed, and we all watched in tears,” he said.