Darkside of KPOP

For the sake of being a personnel of one of the girlband or boyband, a young teenager, even those who are still children have to undergo exhausting training for years, and even then without a guarantee of success in the end. Not like Indonesia, beautiful girls on the streets can just become artists immediately.

Wonder Girls, one of the first Korean girl groups to break the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in the US, unfortunately they had to lose a personnel when Sun Mi decided to leave the band to focus on study.

The 19-year-old girl decided to leave the group when they will do a concert tour in the US.

As released by JYP Entertainment, the Wonder Girls agency. Sun Mi said ...

"It was a pleasant and valuable experience for me to be part of a 50 city concert tour in the US and appear on stage, but I then asked, can I continue to live like this?"

Sun Mi's decision not only surprised many Wonder Girls fans, but also sparked controversy over the pressure suffered by the idols who were still a debutant for their dreams of becoming idol stars or already, to carry out a schedule some people say was too hard to lived by a teenager.

Entertainment agencies in Korea search to create more idols who are also managed by them.

The record left behind by K-pop singer Kim Jong-hyun, known as Jonghyun, shows the dark side of the South Korean music industry.

A former K-pop star, Prince Mak, revealed that the famous semi-band had the hardest struggle because it had to live with what it called a "contract of slavery."

Jonghyun, the lead singer of the band Shinee, died at a Seoul hospital Monday (18/12) after being found unconscious in his apartment. His death later revealed the great pressure facing young people in South Korea in the fierce competition in the entertainment industry.

In a note he left, the 27-year-old singer said, "I was crushed from the inside."

Jonghyun's funeral procession on Thursday (21/12) by leaving the Asan Medican Center in Seoul with members of the Shinee band and Jonghyun's sister in front.

Many grieving fans uploaded aqua blue moon photos in South Korea and Japan that they mentioned were signs from Jonghyun.

Former K-pop star Prince Mak, who joined JJCC for two years, told YouTube in a video he gave the title "KPOP's dark side."

Prince Mak divides K-pop into three categories, famous, half-famous and unknown bands or singers.

In the video, Prince Mak said that well-known bands were not much worried because they were popular and made money for agents. But the most difficult are those who are "half-famous" because they have to bear what he calls a "slavery contract."

He said strict regulations were applied including food, courtship, and long working hours which usually reached more than 18 hours a day. "Half-famous" artists will be very tired.

K-pop members also have to do whatever the company asks. But, they only get less than US $ 2 a day, Prince Mak said.

"Contracts of slavery are usually on average between 10-15 years, the requirements are not like dating, having to go on a diet, some even having plastic surgery and no holidays. They can work 24 hours," Prince Mak said.

As reported by the AFP news agency, Jonghyun sent a short message to his sister before he died. One message said, "this is my last farewell".

During his life, Jonghyun was seen by many fans as a very sensitive young man. Unlike other K-Pop stars, Jonghyun doesn't adhere to the style of hedonism after fame.

Jonghyun's note sent to Nine thickened that perception.

"Life as a famous star is not for me".

"Especially what I can say. Say I have done good. That this is enough. That I have worked hard. Even if you can't smile, don't blame me".

credit to : agen taruhan bola