To start off, I want to say that NewJeans verdict surprised no one. This isn’t particularly about them, as their claims have little to nothing to do with what’s been going on that’d require this opinion. With that said, I do think that some aspects of this case show the need for a union among idols.
Now, while I’d also say that termination fees etc are normal, in no real scenario should it be millions of dollars, especially since these are usually young kids that have little understanding of what being bind with a contract means; and their parents seem to show little effort into explaining it. The horrible working hours, inhumane schedules don’t even need to brought up.
I know this is kind of an unrealistic expectation, especially from a country driven by capitalism and a strict working culture. And for an industry filled with mostly uneducated teens, and uneducated adults that grew up in the industry. But a girl can dream. I also acknowledge that if idols are given a chance to unionize, the CEOs and what not will find unimaginable loopholes to prevent unionizing. I also know that idols aren’t textbook definition of workers. That just goes to show how how little the South Korean judiciary system regulates a major industry within their borders. And to expect idols to mediate with big guys in bigger suits when faced with a challenge is just unrealistic. I can only imagine this could happen by the leadership of a senior artist, I just hope that someone can take the lead one day.
submitted by /u/maneack
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