Voices of 30 K-Pop Entertainment Professionals Compiled into an Interview Book

An interview book titled “Unofficial Stances from the Entertainment World,” featuring stories from 30 professionals working in various roles within the K-Pop entertainment industry, has been published. Set for release on the 14th, this book reveals the identities and faces of unnamed staff members who shape stars—such as casting directors, songwriters, A&R specialists, hair and makeup teams, trainers, and public relations officers—and shares their honest insights about work and personal life. The author is Lee Ha-eun, 34, who spent eight years as a public relations officer for actors and singers at YG Entertainment before working as an editor for a magazine company. She explained her motivation for writing, saying, “I wanted to show that there are people behind the dazzling lights.” As K-Pop and K-dramas have grown rapidly, job roles have become increasingly specialized, yet even within the same company, it is often difficult to fully understand different positions. “When people say ‘YG employee,’ they usually assume it means an idol manager. Even though there are many professionals working in these fields, there remains a tendency to overlook the importance of staff members.” Participants in the book include professionals with around 10 years of experience from large agencies like HYBE, SM, and JYP to smaller companies. Topics covered range from auditions and casting to A&R, songwriting, training, hair and makeup, public relations, fan marketing, and social responsibility—encompassing nearly all roles within entertainment companies. Hyojeong from OH MY GIRL and actor Son Ho-jun are also among those who contributed. The author founded her one-person publishing company, SunnySideWest, to handle recruitment, writing, publication, and distribution, a process that took 18 months. “I must have reached out to hundreds of people for interviews. Only those I could persuade by sending official requests to the interviewees’ companies’ HR and public relations teams were included in the book.” The book met its funding goal early through an Aladin crowdfunding campaign and will go into a second printing shortly after release. It contains vivid accounts of the behind-the-scenes stories behind successful K-Pop groups, such as how casting director Hyun Woo-jin discovered MINGYU of SEVENTEEN on his way home from school, performance director Kim Byung-gon’s experiences growing up alongside BIGBANG and G-Dragon, and artist-exclusive trainer Park Kyung-joon’s journey working closely with ATEEZ and others. According to the professionals, this industry is driven by a strong sense of mission and passion. At the same time, each role comes with its own set of occupational challenges. A&R specialist Park Mi-ran suffers from tinnitus and hearing damage after listening to over 300 new songs per week during the review process. The interviewees commonly cited issues such as being on phone call 24/7, poor working conditions relative to the intensity of their tasks, and unstable employment. The common statement that “the ability to persevere is the top virtue for surviving in the entertainment industry” illustrates the level of stress they face. However, the joy in this industry stems from human connections. The author recalled, “I always found pleasure in helping others and being helped in return.” “There are always unexpected situations, so we have no choice but to help one another. Many people shared stories of artists covering for their mistakes during interviews or receiving help from colleagues. Sharing such intense experiences fosters a strong sense of camaraderie.” At the end of the book, there is a common question asked of all interviewees: “If a work centered around you were created, what would its title be?” Through this question, the author highlights those who create brilliant stars while also shining a light on the professionals who have been the protagonists of their own lives. Jo Yoon-kyung, a 23-year veteran songwriter and one of the book’s contributors, is an expert who has witnessed the changes in the K-Pop industry up close. She began her career in 2002 by writing the Korean version of BOA’s “Listening to My Heart” and has since composed 375 songs (as of March 10, 2025), continuing to listen to demo tracks and work daily. Songs by top artists such as Girls’ Generation, SHINee, IVE, Kai, Red Velvet, and THE BOYZ feature her lyrics. Over the past 20 years, Jo Yoon-kyung believes K-Pop lyrics have reflected societal gender sensibilities. “Girls who used to shout things like ‘I’m pretty, please love me like this’ or ‘I can do anything for you’ have now shifted to seeking what’s valuable for ‘themselves,’ rather than for men or others,” she said. She emphasized the sensitivity of lyric writing, noting that what was once seen as a man’s earnest effort might now appear rude and harsh. Jo Yoon-kyung described herself as both “a successful fan and a professional.” “You can’t just create lyrics out of simple admiration. It requires the skills of a professional—listening to demos, storytelling, analyzing artists, and finding the most fitting expressions.” She also expressed regret that most songwriters are freelancers, making it difficult to earn recognized seniority, and that individual songwriters are not treated as true industry experts. Despite this, she remains optimistic about the industry’s future. “I’m not representative of the entire industry, but I believe that if there are unfair requests, colleagues will work together to address them, and efforts to show care for artists and respect for those who create songs will ultimately lead the industry in a positive direction.”