What are the rules of being a trainee in K-pop?

K-pop trainee rules: no dating, no phones, weekly weight checks – Blackpink, Twice and BTS members reveal what Korea’s entertainment agencies really demand of their idols 1.3k

Why do people like K-pop agencies so much?

Most K-pop agencies have a definable sound, which allows for a level of continuity between their releases. If you like one artist from an agency, chances are you’ll enjoy the rest. This leads me to a hopelessly biased list.

Which K-pop companies have the highest chances of disbanding?

YG entertainment and SM entertainment because they have the most success rate. For other companies you have more chances of disbanding. As you know K-pop bands don’t earn a lot of money at all.

Should K-pop idols sign contracts with entertainment companies?

Yes, they have the luxury of knowing that they are talented enough to be accepted into an elite entertainment company as a trainee, but their debut and eventual success is by no means guaranteed. By signing a contract with the entertainment company, they are signing away things that we, as K-pop fans, take for granted.

Is K-pop music a big business?

Bernie Cho, a Korean music industry executive, told CNN, “K-Pop music is a big business and K-Pop bands not only endorse big brands but also become big time brands themselves. As a result, for better or for worse, individuals in such bands are viewed as investments.”

Why are K-pop stars not allowed to date?

That pressure seems even more extreme when you find out about the strict rules that K-Pop stars have to follow. K-Pop fans like their idols to be single — and female performers are preferably fully chaste — which is why they’re not allowed to date. According to CNN, “some even having a ‘no dating’ clause in their contracts.”

Are K-pop idols allowed to eat ice cream?

K-pop trainees invariably live under a strict diet plan 24/7. There’s even a famous list circulating online detailing the high-calorie foods that trainees are forbidden to eat – including tteok-bokki, jajangmyeon, ice cream, hamburgers – and several K-pop idols have later shared tragicomic stories of trying to sneak food into their dorms.