EDITORIAL IS BEING A TRAINEE REALLY WORTH IT?

[Saint Ren]

EDITORIAL: IS BEING A TRAINEE REALLY WORTH IT?
Written by: Saint Ren

Lee Moon Won, a culture critic, once said, “Koreans spend the same effort on everything, whether it is college entrance exams or an office job.” The same is true for their entertainment industry. Instead of the individualistic "get out and try your luck" nature applied in the West, South Korea came up with the trainee system. Idol hopefuls audition for companies, and if they get accepted, they'll be put through a rigorous training system where they are taught dancing, singing, rapping, foreign language and variety skills. When they are deemed ready, they'll get a chance to debut, but are the sacrifices they make for just a shot at fame really worth going through the system? Well, there are three key issues when it comes to being a trainee.

Firstly, the financial burden. Once a hopeful gets picked by a company, they immediately sign a trainee contract. At the moment, South Korea has very limited regulations covering trainees, and thus the power is mainly with the company that the trainee has signed with. A small handful of big companies won't charge a trainee for the services that they provide — covering classes, food and housing — however, the majority of Kpop companies place the entire financial burden on the trainee.

Even after debut, most trainees rarely get to see the debt that they've accumulated. They have no information on how much they owe, where that debt has come from, or how the company is using their profits to help eliminate that debt. They simply get told that they owe an amount, and that a certain percentage has been taken off their pay to pay it off until they hit their "break even point". How much of the company's profits go towards paying off the debt is entirely up to the company. The key issue is a lack of transparency, which is common even at some of Kpop's biggest companies. At the height of their fame, BAP earned almost 10 million dollars in profits over three years, but each member only got paid 18 thousand dollars over three years. Most trainee contracts also have a termination fee that is usually extremely extortionate — the fee does not have to equal the amount of debt accumulated and can be three times greater. So, for example, say you've been a trainee for a year and through that time have accumulated a debt of 23 thousand dollars — the termination fee will be far greater than that amount. The termination fee is completely up to the company to decide, and once a trainee debuts, the termination fee greatly increases as 'damages' are added.

Secondly; lack of agency. Tina, a former member of the girl group Blady said "once you're a trainee, there is no private life and no freedom." Due to the lack of regulations covering trainees, agencies have an incredible amount of power over their day to day lives. The trainee contracts are so broad and detailed that they cover almost every area of a trainee's life: where they live, where they train, how long they train for, who they can talk to, if they're allowed to have a phone, if they're allowed to leave their dorms without a chaperone — and the list goes on. But control is not limited to just a contract. Once a trainee is within the physical control of an agency, the power they hold is unlimited. Trainees are regularly pressured not to eat so that they can maintain or achieve a certain weight. However, there's also an even darker side to that control — some companies abuse their trainees by putting them in very dangerous situations and pressuring them to do things. In May of 2017, a CEO of an agency was arrested for brokering female trainees from his agency. He was charged with 20 months in prison and fined approximately $17,800 USD. He had brokered 4 of his female trainees to a wealthy Korean businessman in Los Angeles, and was also accused of arranging for the prostitution of another woman.

Once they've debuted, idols are a little more open about their trainee experiences — from their lack of sleep to their rather frightening weight loss stories — but the one area that's rarely talked about by them is the pressure of plastic surgery. This, however, is an area that is such a core part of the trainee experience and a topic that a lot of past trainees who are now Youtubers commonly talk about. Visuals are so important to the industry that it is a designated role in a group. Plastic surgery in general is seen as a necessity to debuting, but it is a double-edged sword. The Youtuber Grazy Grace covered the topic and whilst trainees aren't forced to, it seems that coercion to get plastic surgery is very common. Trainees are promised that a nose job or a new jawline would make all their dreams come true, and they're so young that they're more susceptible to such pressures.

The third key issue; scheduling. Once you become a trainee, it pretty much consumes your life. Compulsory education ends at fifteen in Korea (after middle school), and so legally, trainees aged 15 or above do not have to attend school. Regardless, most end up attending specialised art schools such as Hanlim Multi Arts School. Classes at Hanlim are also not compulsory, only exams are, and so trainees rarely attend school as most of their waking day is spent training with the company. Most idols admit that their grades took a large dip after they became trainees as it was just impossible to focus on school and keep up with their schedule.

It's not just a trainee's schooling that's impacted — it's every part of their life. Friends, extracurricular activities, family — everything takes a back seat to training. They dedicate their lives to it, but most never even reach the heights of fame and riches that they're promised when they sign on, and a large percentage do not even debut. A lot of idols have expressed in the past how they believed debuting to be the end goal, but it's truly only the start. There's no real guarantee that all your sacrifices will be worth it, and that the years of hard work and dedication will be rewarded.

So is being a trainee worth it?
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PROOFREAD BY: @lex.
GRAPHICS BY: @yerm ​

 

[Seriously]

I guess it depends where you see the worth.
Financially, for most idols lord no. But if their dream and all they've ever wanted to do is perform, i guess some will see value in that... assuming they debut rip.
I often wonder what happens to the kids who never make it, you just get dumped out the other side with years wasted, no education or work experience, and a bill...

 

[Saint Ren]

I guess it depends where you see the worth.
Financially, for most idols lord no. But if their dream and all they've ever wanted to do is perform, i guess some will see value in that... assuming they debut rip.
I often wonder what happens to the kids who never make it, you just get dumped out the other side with years wasted, no education or work experience, and a bill...

I saw an article recently of a 30 yr old regretting the 15 years she put into her training. She said every time she thought of quitting, she'd get false hope and stick it out and the longer she stuck it out the harder it was to quit but she promised herself she'd walk away if she hit 30 and restart her life. It's a difficult thing to do, especially cos the system is built to make you as helpless as possible.

 

[Polaris_Tae]

My biggest gripe with the Kpop training system, aside from the obvious mistreatment is the concept of the BEP, where once Kpop artists break even, the company just adds more of a debt to the group via their constant comebacks, see BAP as an example, they likely paid off all of their training expenses but due to their consistent comebacks had mountains of debt piled upon that due to the expenses that the company used during each of their promotional periods.
Add onto that the extreme case of underpayment and it was a lawsuit just waiting to happen. Thankfully they've left that trash company.

 

[hatmixx]

i think you hit well on all the bad points of being a trainee. Honestly, i don't think it would be worth it unless you join a reputable company, even then who knows what you will get.

Even after debut, most trainees rarely get to see the debt that they've accumulated. They have no information on how much they owe, where that debt has come from, or how the company is using their profits to help eliminate that debt. They simply get told that they owe an amount, and that a certain percentage has been taken off their pay to pay it off until they hit their "break even point".

for me this is the biggest one... i simply don't understand the amount of trainees that put up with this. i have seen this countless times (even famous idols). How in the world is this legal? How does no one fight this? Every trainee/idol i have heard talk about this would mention asking for itemized invoices, and they always never got it... it's just a racket.


Here's another very enlightening video on the struggles of trainee life by former Skarf member Ferlyn. The whole thing is in English and it's very raw and honest.

 

[Saint Ren]

i think you hit well on all the bad points of being a trainee. Honestly, i don't think it would be worth it unless you join a reputable company, even then who knows what you will get.



for me this is the biggest one... i simply don't understand the amount of trainees that put up with this. i have seen this countless times (even famous idols). How in the world is this legal? How does no one fight this? Every trainee/idol i have heard talk about this would mention asking for itemized invoices, and they always never got it... it's just a racket.


Here's another very enlightening video on the struggles of trainee life by former Skarf member Ferlyn. The whole thing is in English and it's very raw and honest.

There's a lot I would put up with for a dream but the sheer lack of transparency is insane but it's not by accident, the system is set up the way and any idol who tries to take back control rarely seems to win, even in the Courts.

 

[hatmixx]

There's a lot I would put up with for a dream but the sheer lack of transparency is insane but it's not by accident, the system is set up the way and any idol who tries to take back control rarely seems to win, even in the Courts.

this is just infuriating.

however, glad sonamoo nahyun and sumin did win their lawsuits, so sometimes, they do come thru

 

[ARandomFan]

I wish the whole system/process was set up better. To treat humans like humans. But money is more important to the greedy.
It doesn't help that the entertainment industry in general is already a hard enough to accomplish dreams in.
That's one of the many gripes I have with kpop. And in being "famous" ig... Humans suddenly aren't human.

 

[Baymax]

I can’t even imagine the willpower and mindset that you must have to go through the trainee system; there are just too many sacrifices to be made when the future is full of uncertainties. I feel especially sorry for those who has been there for years and it doesn’t work out for them. It's just so insane to me the amount of control some companies can have on a person, and take advantage of them and offer nothing but empty promises.

 

[Chococo]

Good article, Ren! Makes you think a lot.

I feel like that Korean music industry is both too small and too large at the same time, if that makes sense. Like there's so much competition, so that's why it is large. There are of artists for every single genre and it continues to expand/grow. But in the same time it is so small - like there's little room for anyone, except if they are from the larger companies. A lot of the artists go away unheard and unnoticed. Some of them just release one or two songs, if they debut.

So a lot of the time it is a way of thinking 'make it or break it', if you don't make it - it is just not worth it. The only reward you can get is an enjoyment of doing something that you probably love (and worked hard to achieve it) and interacting with fans. Everyone tries to figure out a way to make the fans feel more engaged and more interested in the company especially if they are from the smaller companies.

It makes me think that it is worth it. You still get to enjoy the experience if this is something what you have dreamed and aspired to do. In my opinion and how I feel, it is better to say that you tried to achieve that dream - instead of just flying it through your hands. But you also live with a hope in your heart every single day ,that somehow you succeed, that somehow you can become bigger and prolong that feeling of enjoyment for as long as possible. But in the same time - I think that the whole burden of debts, also not receiving as much work or attention can also take that enjoyment away and it force you to take a seat down and force you to re-think everything.

The only thing what worries me a lot is how some companies are so dark and seems like some shady business is going behind. I don't want to point fingers at anyone, but sometimes you just can't help it but wonder about how little do we know as fans. And if all started to come out, would we still want to be there and support everything what happened? But it makes me think that one day, with the generations changing and growing, the bubble will burst.

A couple of Baby Boo members recently sued their CEO because they were not paid for all of the events they did. And they also had to go and wash their hair somewhere else because there was no water in their dorms. Their company refused to pay the bills. Just want to say if you are considering reading this post, it can be triggering to some. So please take care of yourselves.



Baby Boo was one of the notorious nugu girl groups with a huge line-up change over the years. There are a lot of nugu girl groups with a frequent line-up change, some of the members can't hold out longer than a couple of months and they leave and never reappear again - so it also makes me wonder, what is not right? Is it the environment in the group? Is it the company? What is happening?

 

[Golden]

Finally.

Edit:

I feel like in a ways you have more freedom as a trainee then you do as an actual idol. Trainee's can date
Go on vacations, whenever they want. They can even go to public places without having a crowd around them
But I guess how good you have it as a trainee depends on whatever company you are in.

 

[OutroTearTheFirst]

I would only think it might be worth it if I was at a company where I was guaranteed to do pretty well. But then I think about another dark side of being a trainee which can be getting a sponsor. I don’t think I could do that regardless of how badly I want to debut. Here is a video that I think is really good and shows the hard situation of trainees that want to make it in the industry

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[Saint Ren]

I would only think it might be worth it if I was at a company where I was guaranteed to do pretty well. But then I think about another dark side of being a trainee which can be getting a sponsor. I don’t think I could do that regardless of how badly I want to debut. Here is a video that I think is really good and shows the hard situation of trainees that want to make it in the industry

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I think we've established that I would spread those legs for stardom

but that video is incredible

 

[BianTwo]

• Financial burding : How to start your life, at 14-16, with debt if you didn't make it into a big label who don't hold debt towards their trainee. Now you are pressured to success and if you fail you will have to pay with part time job, doing shady things with sponsors, etc and you will get the blame, not the staff or the direction. And the complete lack of transparency...how can't you know how much debt you have ? That way the label can make you pay more than the true amount.
  
• Being young and the social hierarchy system : You can't simply protest or talk back, you will be seen as rude, be fired or you won't make it as a trainee, so you won't debut. And the older staffs, the direction, teachers, managers, etc they can basically do anything with these young people. Smaller label don't have any attention so many shading things could happen (last example Fanatic's CEO on one vlive) but in bigger label it's not better, only different.
  
• The competition : The worst thing is you compete against other trainees from the SAME label, fighting for the few spots, trying to get the staffs attention, that leads to things like bullying, bad mouth in people's back, it's surprising to see so many groups could debut and maintain some kind of unity for years without imploding.
  With the oversaturation the industry can hold extreme conditions in order to keep the best, those who can suffer, those with strong will to pursuit despite all the negative sides. That way you can wipe out 90-99% of the trainees and do whatever you want because you will always find young people dreaming and hoping to become rich and popular.
  Trainees from middle class, upper class and higher can also take private lessons, get into a dancing academy, they can pay for the transport between their home and the label. They can also have their family's support, have a plan B if they fail, unlike teenagers from lower classes who may be told by their family to go back to school and study if they don't have success.
  
• No more freedom : Once signed with a label, they litterally own you. OP explained well everything. If you are lucky you may have your own phone. Also delete or make private all your personal account (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc) because fans and haters will dig up your past. Say goodbye to your family, to your friends and to your school, you won't have time to see them. Hanging up with your friends saturday night ? Nope. Big family gathering for a dinner or a celebration ? Nope. Maybe your label will let you go if someone in your family pass away.
  
• Your living condition : In a dorm, if you are lucky you aren't more than 5-6 in your small dorm but you will have to share a romm with at least 1 or 2 other trainees. Goodbye to any privacy even if you can cover and hide your bed like many idols do.
  Diet, unhealthy diet most of the time. Get under 50kg regardless your body type, your height or your fat/muscle ratio. I forgot : you are still growing so it's even worse since you need to eat a lot and sleep a lot. Because you won't even have time to sleep more than 3 or 4h, sometimes you don't even sleep for one or two whole days.
  
• Plastic surgery : When I talked about extreme high standard, it's not only about the training and your living conditions but it also means your visual. Heavy makeup, hair extension, fake eyelashes, dental care, everything is done to make you as pretty as possible but sometimes it's not enough so you can choose to go under a plastic surgery for your jawline, eye, nose, or the whole face. If if didn't happen during your trainee days you might get it later during your career. We've seen idols changing face with time.
  
• Schedule : Training, again and again, until dawn, then go to school, or to another lesson if you don't to school anymore.
  
• If you fail : If you are lucky you leave before it gets serious and while you are still young, so you can still return into a normal life and live like a classic teenager. Some will waste 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, getting false hope, never debuting and finally have many regrets. 99% of all idols will fail to succeed I heard
• Very high moral stance : Get hate for anything, even things you didn't say or things you weren't even responsible for.

With all these points, is it worth the sacrifice ? No way. However if you really want to be a trainee and become an idol consider many things (of course when you're young is harder to think about this) :

- You love performing on stage

- You love to interact with people, with your fans

- It's your dream


Don't if :

- You want to meet your seniors, your favorite idols

- You want to see what it looks like