Abusive expectations still exist on the dark side of the idol industry

Article: The tragedy of idols having to smile and sing even when their grandmother has passed away

Source: Han via Naver

[+76, -2] What's up with his agency's reply? What we're asking is what have you done to protect him. He suffered from dizziness to the point where he struggled with getting on flights, he almost fainted at his Bangkok performance, he was seen grabbing his back on V-app... did you know all of this? And he talked about struggling back in 2019.. Shouldn't someone have been with him at all times? So what did his agency do this whole time?

[+34, -3] Moonbin was the best idol I've seen, a real all-rounder of a singer. Height, visuals, dancing, singing, performance, character - he had it all, just the best of the best. So rare for someone to be born with all these traits at once but for him to still have trained to become a great idol like this, I can only feel grateful that he's left us with many amazing performances and songs. With how close he was with his members, I'm sure his absence will be felt. We all love and respect you. Rest in peace.

[+29, -0] This article points out the deformities of this industry. Yes, I agree that no industry is fair, and that everyone faces struggles in life... but we have to understand that the idol entertainment industry in particular treats young children to teens as products. Their looks and talents are treated as 'product worth' and how many are actually prepared for the mental anguish that such a job requires? For being treated less than? It doesn't matter whether these idols make a lot of money or not enough, there needs to be more laws and regulations that help them be treated as just human beings.

[+25, -1] His agency is hopeless ㅜㅜㅜㅠ He was in such poor condition that he couldn't fly but they kept forcing him to do schedules... I wonder if we could've avoided such a tragedy if they had given him a decent amount of break beforehand.

[+20, -0] All that world touring as a unit... There were too many performances back to back. If he couldn't even get on the plane because he was so sick, he should've been taken to a hospital and given time off. I think forcing him to comply with all those schedules while he was already physically and mentally under the weather just dropped him further into despair.

[+8, -0] It's difficult to rule his death as just simply depression. No one was around him to help. A young man traded his life away for a chance at his dream, and the show business industry consumed him so despairingly, to the point where he just disappeared. I really think there are some industry officials to be blamed here... These nasty adults who think of these kids as nothing but tools to make money!!

[+6, -2] The Hong sisters talked about having to continue writing even while their father passed away, while Jo Soo Mi revealed she had to perform at a recital in Paris the day her father passed away. There are plenty of regular company workers who also couldn't rush to their mother's death or attend their parent's funerals because of working on this and that. We all live through these "tragedies" in our lives. After all, don't these idols know that finding success in a career like this is like finding a needle in a haystack?

[+2, -0] I wonder how heavy the pressure on him was that he chose death instead.. Sometimes a normal life is the best blessing you can have. What does wealth and honor matter when nothing feels real... I feel unfortunate for him.

[+3, -2] I always think this about idols. In exchange for wealth and fame, they always have to be smiling, displaying good manners... otherwise face the wrath of hate comments if you show even a moment of weakness. Can you imagine the stress that must put you under?

[+1, -0] The dark side behind the flashing lights

-