The Dark Side of K-Pop Dreams: Trainees Share Their Struggles

Sat Feb 07 2026 07:58:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As K-pop gains global fame, aspiring stars share unsettling experiences in South Korea's training academies, highlighting exploitation and harassment.

Many young international hopefuls flock to South Korea for K-pop training, dreaming of stardom. However, personal accounts reveal a troubling reality, with allegations of unfulfilled promises, inadequate training, and instances of harassment. Trainees emphasize the need for safer environments in what has become an unregulated industry.

With K-pop's dazzling rise, young aspirants worldwide are drawn to South Korea, hoping to emulate stars like Lisa from BLACKPINK. But dreams can quickly sour. Trainees allege that academies often exploit their ambition, promising auditions and professional training that rarely materialize. Miyu, a teen trainee, shared her experience of paying nearly $20,000 for a six-month program that resulted in minimal lessons and shocking harassment. Similar stories emerged from other trainees, exposing an underregulated industry rife with the risk of exploitation.

I dreamed of becoming an idol, but what I went through felt like a scam, Miyu stated. Her testimony is echoed by many others who, lured by the allure of fame, encounter a stark and dangerous reality. While some agencies deny wrongdoing, the need for reform and stringent regulations in the K-pop training landscape has never been more urgent.