The High Cost of K-Pop Dreams: Sexual Abuse Experienced by Foreign Trainees

International media has exposed how foreign trainees who aspire to become K-pop idols end up paying high fees only to receive no promised training or audition opportunities, and in some cases, suffer sexual abuse. A 10-year-old Japanese girl named Miyu (a pseudonym) paid 3 million yen (approximately 27 million won) for a six-month K-pop training academy program in 2024, but was not given the specialized training or opportunities to audition with major agencies as promised.

Miyu said, “They claimed auditions would be held every week, but none ever took place,” adding that “both the number of classes and the level of training fell far short of what I expected for the price.” Worse still, she alleged she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a senior staff member during training. Miyu revealed, “He took me alone to a convenience store under the pretext of buying ice cream, then placed his hand on my waist and said my figure was good,” and also recounted being called to the office under the guise of discussing outfit choices for photoshoots and forced to sit on his lap.

Another foreign trainee at the same academy, Elin (a pseudonym), claimed to have experienced inappropriate physical contact from the same staff member. Elin filed a police report against the employee for sexual harassment and unlawful entry, but the case was closed due to insufficient evidence. The company also filed its own lawsuit. A third trainee stated that while she wasn’t directly harmed, she witnessed the staff member’s inappropriate behavior.

The company outright denied these allegations. Its legal representative argued, “According to our internal rules, it is strictly prohibited for male staff to enter female trainee dormitories without a female employee present,” and added that “the CCTV in the dormitories was installed solely for protective purposes as previously announced.”

K-pop training companies are classified as either academies under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education or entertainment agencies. The company Miyu attended was registered as an entertainment agency, meaning it is not directly subject to education laws. This reveals a regulatory gap regarding training programs for foreign learners. An official from the Ministry of Education noted, “Under the current system, it is difficult to regulate ‘academy-style agencies’ that target foreigners.”

Miyu said, “I came here because I wanted to become an idol, but I feel like I was scammed. This place was once a spot where I pursued my dreams but has now become a source of trauma.” Elin added, “K-pop has gained worldwide fame, and with that comes responsibility. I hope these kids pursuing this dream can have a safer environment.”