KG, a 17-year-old American member of VCHA, made abuse allegations against JYP Entertainment staff and announced her departure. Her claims about the toxic environment, including self-harm among members, sparked criticism of the K-pop training system. Online discussions highlighted cultural differences, questioning the sustainability of training Western idols under Korea’s demanding system.
Allegations of Abuse and Departure by KG
KG, a 17-year-old American member of VCHA, claimed she experienced abuse by certain JYP Entertainment staff. On December 8, she announced through her social media that she had filed a lawsuit, terminated her contract, and decided to leave VCHA. The group, formed under JYP and Republic Records’ global project “A2K,” debuted in January this year. KG cited the group’s toxic work and living environment, mentioning that it led to disordered eating and self-harm among members. She stated she had already decided to leave the group in May and was waiting for the contract termination process to conclude.
Criticism of K-pop Practices Amid Abuse Allegations by KG
KG expressed that she didn’t want to target anyone personally but believed the issue reflected systemic problems in the K-pop industry. She hoped her departure would encourage changes to protect idols and trainees better. JYP Entertainment responded by stating they hadn’t received official notice of KG’s claims. They acknowledged differing perspectives during prior discussions and affirmed their Amcommitment to addressing the issue through established procedures.
Korean Community Reactions to KG Abuse Allegations
Korean online communities, such as MLBPARK, reacted strongly, stating this situation was inevitable. Many argued that Americans cannot adapt to Korea’s rigorous trainee and group-living systems, which limit personal freedoms. Some noted that JYP is known for treating trainees well, yet even this seemed unmanageable for KG. Concerns were raised about the risks of lawsuits when training American idols, given the legal culture in the United States.
Challenges of Globalizing the K-pop System
The Korean idol training system, rooted in personal sacrifice, is culturally incompatible with many Western standards. Restrictions on dating and freedom, seen as norms in Korea, might be perceived as human rights violations in the U.S. While this system has flourished with Korean and Japanese trainees, it faces resistance from American or European participants. The incident highlighted the cultural gap, sparking discussions about whether training non-Korean idols is sustainable.
A Lighthearted Reflection
This situation underscores the challenges of blending cultures within K-pop. It seems Koreans and Japanese embrace the rigorous training with a sense of duty, while Westerners struggle to adapt. Some joked that even Korea’s strict school retreats might feel like human rights violations to Americans. Perhaps K-pop’s uniquely demanding system is best suited to its cultural roots, leaving everyone to focus on what they do best!
Here’s a link to MLBPARK.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this post. Please share your thoughts in the comments!
I knew something like this would happen. If a company creates an international group, everything would be different from Korean groups – from living in dorm rooms to how trainees are taught.
Different cultures would cause many problems. Foreign trainees come from different backgrounds and would find it hard to follow K-pop training systems. If they see anything unfair, they would likely sue.
In the United States, if a company loses such lawsuits, they must pay huge amounts of money. American legal systems are stricter than Korean laws. The fines can be so big that they could damage a company’s finances.
JYP should give up on its plan to create an international group. If they get sued in the United States and lose, they could lose a lot of money.