**On social media, agencies are constantly accused of exploiting and overworking their artists whenever an idol goes on hiatus due to mental health or physical exhaustion. However, when I compare their workloads to those of other performers and athletes around the world, I find myself questioning that narrative. What are the real issues and root causes behind the struggles facing K-pop idols? To be clear, I’m not trying to defend the agencies—I just want to look at this objectively and dig deeper into the actual reasons.
- **Comparison with popular J-pop idols:** Popular idols like AKB48’s center Momoka Ito (Itomomo) and the group CUTIE STREET are packed every day with TV appearances, magazine and social media shoots, and live shows—arguably even more exposed than many K-pop idols. Yet, they generally seem to maintain their physical and mental health.
- **Comparison with popular young Japanese comedians:** They also have virtually no days off due to daily theater performances and TV tapings, yet they remain physically and mentally resilient.
- **Comparison with Olympic athletes and figure skaters:** Their daily training regimens are vastly more grueling than those of K-pop idols, and they carry the weight of an entire nation during competitions. The level of pressure isn’t even comparable.
- **Comparison with MLB players:** They play games for 20 consecutive days, flying long distances coast-to-coast and north-to-south across the US immediately after games with zero rest days. The explosive energy and stamina required to compete at the highest level in the world put an unimaginable strain on their bodies.
- **Comparison with male and female soccer players:** On top of daily training, they play 90-minute matches every three days on average, sprinting across massive pitches while enduring intense physical contact.
Of course, even among these entertainers and athletes, the majority—despite having real talent—end up fading away unnoticed without ever making it big due to mental struggles, poor health, or injuries. However, if a young Real Madrid player drops out because of these issues, does the club face public backlash? If an athlete suffers a mental health breakdown right before the Olympic trials, is the sport itself criticized? It is a universally understood reality that standing on a glamorous stage inaccessible to ordinary people requires overcoming immense hardships—which is precisely why people shed tears, empathize, and are deeply moved at the moment of a gold medal or championship victory. Because of this shared understanding, the company, team, or sport itself is rarely accused of “human rights violations” (aside from clear cases of sexual harassment or abuse against the players).
Compared to these professionals, I don’t think K-pop idols have uniquely long hours or abnormally grueling jobs.
If workload alone isn’t the answer, then what are the harsh problems facing K-pop idols that go beyond what these entertainers and athletes experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this perspective. What do you think is the true root cause here?**
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