How an Artist Becomes an Idol

Written by Kora Quinn, Arts Editor Graphic by Riya Shah, Contributing Graphic Artist

The K-pop industry has its own culture within the world of entertainment. While there are a range of factors that attract people to the genre, management sets K-pop groups apart by creating a special type of relationship between the artists, known as “idols,” and the audiences. Companies aim to build the idols’ physical and social attraction, feeding into feelings of love and relatability that usually lead to obsessive parasocial relationships among fans. In turn, these companies capitalize on exalting K-pop stars—and their methods aren’t always pretty.1 Like in Western music, there are three dominating record companies that house and manage artists in South Korea and a plethora of smaller ones.2 Unlike in Western music, once aspiring idols sign with a company, they become a “trainee” and enter into a period of intense preparation in dance, voice, rap and acting that can last anywhere from one to 10 years—like college, but to become a pop artist.3 After years bal-

¹ Espinal Veronica, “Parasocial Relationships in K-pop: Emotional Support Capitalism,” EnVi Media, Feb. 21, 2021. ² “Top 7 of the biggest Korean entertainment companies,” WE, March 21, 2020. ³ Jang Seob Yoon, “Distribution of trainees in the ancing school, lessons and sometimes a part-time job, these trainees “debut” in groups with anywhere between four and nine members, each with dedicated positions such as leader, main vocalist, main dancer and main rapper. During the training period, companies mold their artists into the ideal entertainers, starting with appearance. To achieve the aforementioned physical attraction, companies often pressure trainees into getting plastic surgery before they debut to narrow their jaw into a V-shape, add double eyelids, straighten their nose and more.4 Many companies also promote intense dieting both prior to and after debut.5 While fans express criticism over companies who enforce dieting, the online hate that idols receive for putting on weight reigns louder due to industry standards. In making an idol, companies are constantly working on the most important component: social attraction. While an

entertainment industry in South Korea in 2018, by age,” Statista, Aug. 31, 2020. ⁴ “Impossible Beauty Standards with Ashley Choi,” DIVE Studios, Aug. 14, 2020. ⁵ Soheili Komeil, “Grueling gym routines, restrictive diets, and no dating: K-pop stars tell us about the dark side of their industry,” Insider, Dec. 1, 2019. artist is still a trainee, they are often kept completely out of the spotlight. They aren’t allowed to have public social media accounts, sometimes for long after they debut. Even BTS, the most famous K-pop group to date, didn’t have public Instagrams until December of 2021.6 Companies enforce these restrictions to keep idols’ images as pristine as possible; if they don’t have as many ways to speak to the public without company oversight, they don’t have as many ways to spark controversy that could negatively impact their social reputation. Further, in many of the artists’ contracts, there is a dating ban that prevents them from entering romantic relationships—at least not publicly.7 Artists have been exiled from the industry for dating because companies want to sell the image that this idol is available and dedicated to their fans, and thus more appealing. Because of the heavy restrictions on what idols can say and do, anything outside of this image becomes a scandal, forcing members to endure heavy ridicule for minor faults. Dating, drinking, being “lazy” on stage—all things that have been warped into “controversies” due to the industry-curated image of perfection. Even the term “idol” reinforces this perception. By molding artists to look and act a certain way, companies perpetuate social standards for beauty and good behavior, creating false and unattainable expectations that border on dehumanizing. Being encouraged to alter your appearance, lose weight and hide facets of your life to avoid controversy are as common in the West as in the East. But in Western entertainment, it’s often covered up until a celebrity publicizes their experiences. While fans of K-pop may be aware of the treatment idols face, much of it goes unchallenged since it has been a part of the industry culture for so long. When it is criticized, it feels like there is little the public can do to change the practices of such large and powerful companies. In the end, the people who profit off of this structure aren’t just the company, but the fans who perceive these celebrities not as people, not as singers, dancers and rappers, not even as artists—but as actual idols. ■

⁶ Kim D., “BTS Members Launch Personal Instagram Accounts,” Soompi, Dec. 6, 2021. ⁷ Soheili Komeil, “Grueling gym routines, restrictive diets, and no dating: K-pop stars tell us about the dark side of their industry,” Insider, Dec. 1, 2019.