According to Korea Herald, becoming a Kpop star used to be one of the top dreams of boys and girls in Korea.
However, recently, while many girls still desire this dream, boys are increasingly giving up their aspirations. They have become more aware of the harsh realities of being a Kpop star.
Trainees usually undergo 3 to 5 years of rigorous training and must compete fiercely for the slim chance of debuting. Even when they achieve fame, they often lose their private lives in the process.
Kpop entertainment companies said they are having difficulty finding male trainees, both in quantity and quality.
Because many young people today like to become influencers or YouTubers, jobs that have the potential to bring greater profits and more freedom.
“In the past 2-3 years, the number of male trainees has decreased by more than 30%. In a group of about 30 trainees, there are only less than 10 guys," a local record label official revealed.
The official added: "Promising talents have become influencers on Instagram or YouTube, as those paths have a higher chance of success than debuting in a Kpop boy band." .
Meanwhile, Kpop trainees face various restrictions, such as not being able to date and maintain a strict diet."
Kpop stars, commonly known as idols, must comply with "moral standards" set forth by the public, including restrictions on dating.
Many idols such as DO (EXO), V (BTS) are criticized for smoking. Recently, Blackpink's Jennie had to publicly apologize for smoking e-cigarettes indoors in Italy.
In March, aespa's Karina broke up with her actor boyfriend and apologized to fans who accused her of "cheating" on them by starting a relationship a few years after her debut.
But why is only the number of male trainees decreasing and not female?
An industry insider said that the reason is due to the lack of sustainability of boy bands.
“For Kpop boy band idols, performing mandatory military service is very important. Male trainees consider how long they can maintain their careers after being discharged from the military.
Most of the time, they lose their fans and cannot continue their career. BTS and Seventeen are exceptions.
Furthermore, you need new successful boy bands that young male trainees can look up to. But no Kpop boy band has achieved the same success as BTS. It may be Seventeen, but they are not a new group.
The male trainees know this and do not want to sacrifice their youth for uncertainty," this person revealed.
Music critic Kim Do Heon said that entertainment companies should treat trainees better, regardless of gender.
“The problem of losing male trainees at Kpop companies has existed for quite a long time. Entertainment companies need to provide better working environments for trainees according to current trends.
I am sure that the number of female interns will also decrease in the future if the outdated training system is not improved," the critic commented.
