“I think a lot of this has to do with how hard it is to be an idol these days. The sad truth is that the bands I follow are not very successful. There are hundreds of boy bands – but most of them are probably unknown or simply referred to as ‘nugu bands’ by the public. So if I grew up watching this happen before my eyes, I might have chosen a different, safer path too.” – commented the audience.
Additionally, the emergence of some survival/entertainment shows clearly shows how difficult and tragic the life of an unsuccessful idol can be, as they see clearly slave contracts, discrimination, poor living conditions…
“Companies that can’t properly nurture their talent shouldn’t be idols. I feel sorry for those who can’t even debut properly.”.
The growth of digital platforms like TikTok has fueled the rise of KOLs. “Tall, handsome kids all say they don’t want to be famous. They can manage their Instagram, live as influencers, date whoever they want, enjoy the nightlife and still make a lot of money” – one account wrote.
“Mukbang god” Tzuyang is the most popular YouTuber in Korea with more than 10 million subscribers, according to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea in the first half of 2024.
Opinions are due to the sharp decline in the birth rate in Korea. On June 19, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a national emergency on population in the context of falling birth rates.
In the first quarter of 2024, South Korea’s fertility rate (the number of children a woman has in her lifetime) hit a record low of 0.76 and is expected to fall further to 0.68 this year. .
However, some point out that the number of births from 2002-2015 was similar and therefore not related to the birth rate. “The significant drop in the number of interns between 2020 and 2022 cannot be blamed on the birth rate. Small companies cannot survive due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”.
Despite the notable boom of the Kpop market over the past few years, the industry is having difficulty finding future Kpop talent.
Recently, the industry has been actively recruiting international trainees and holding global auditions. Even big names like HYBE and SM are preparing to debut groups with members from Western and multinational backgrounds.
According to Tien Phong