In the west there seems to be a huge pattern of child stars or former young pop stars developing serious mental health issues and substance abuse problems that it’s almost become a joke. Pop stars like Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Aaron Carter come to mind. I’ve been into kpop for a pretty long time and I can’t really think of any former idols who really “went off the rails” like these folks except maybe Park Yoochun from TVXQ who has a ton of legal issues and substance abuse problems. Many idols debut EXTREMELY young as well which is usually cause for alarm and makes someone more likely to develop mental health issues and instability. Are Korean idols and agencies just better at hiding things and more private with their personal life? Is it because access to hard drugs isn’t as easy is Korea and the punishment more severe? Is it a cultural difference in some way. Or because most idols who debut young are with their members so the heat isn’t completely on them and they usually don’t become extremely famous until they’re older? I legit cannot think of too many idols who have ever had the kind of out there behavior and mental instability of these western stars besides a few guys who got DUIs and might have acted inappropriate at a nightclub, but nobody who lit stuff on fire, attacked a car after shaving their head or tweet unhinged stuff about a frozen yogurt shop etc. Like I’ve never seen an idol or former idols show actual mental instability on that level?
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