In Korea, in order to debut as a singer in the music industry, a lot of hard work is required. Most people who desire to become singers are often selected through singing competitions or they are scouted by scouts from music-producing companies. When these companies spot talent, they approach the talents and sign them into their company as trainees. Then, as trainees, most will train for at least two years in not only singing, but also dancing. Additionally, they are even required to learn foreign languages.
The trainees that go under training to become singers are usually still in junior high school. This means that not only do the trainees train to become singers, they also attend school at the same time. The amount of time that goes into training to become singers is a large amount of time. They have to juggle time between learning in school and debuting as a singer. They are not able to properly attend school like other students nor are they able to properly spend time with friends. In other words, most singers in Korea have given up a large amount of their childhood in order to stand on stage and sing today.
Many girl groups and boy groups in the Korean musical industry are young and under twenty years old. Most of them have been trainees since they were around 14 to 15 years old and have debuted at around 18 to 19. The average age of girl groups were under twenty years old, but recently the average age has dropped. In 2010, the youngest girl group called Girl Story debuted into the K-pop music industry had an average age of 9.75. Two members of the group are nine year old, one is ten years old, and the other is eleven years old. If they debuted and had began to sing on stage at the average age of 9.75, then they must have been even younger when they had trained as trainees under their company. Instead of going out to play with their friends and properly learning in school, the young girls are subjected to a harsh life as singers in the K-pop industry.
The group, Girl Story, created a big controversy in Korea because they are the youngest girl group that debuted in the K-pop music industry. They may have become singers because it is their dream and people should support that, but they are simply too young. At such a young age, they have to live the life of celebrity singers instead of the life of ordinary 8-10 year olds. Like their seniors in the music industry, the members of Girl Story will not only have to perform live, they have to attend variety shows, promote their song, and attend interviews. They have to deal with fans and anti-fans and harsh news articles and overall pressure that comes with being a celebrity. At such a young age, the members of Girl Story should not have to be scrutinized as celebrities by the public eye so early on in their life.
Additionally, because they are so young, they are not yet fit to live the life of a celebrity singer in Korea. Most of the singers in Korea are worked to the bone in rehearsing their songs and perfecting their performances. Not only that, but they often have to run from one program taping to another. Popular and successful singers often have work schedules that run from morning to midnight. One singer had also once fainted from exhaustion while filming a commercial because he had only slept 2-3 hours (Allkpop). Because young children are not as physically capable as older teens and adults, they should not yet be exposed to a such a hectic and harsh life.
Instead of venturing into the K-pop musical industry prematurely, children should be children a little longer and have time to mature before they chase after their dreams.
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References:
Allkpop:
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/girl-story-under-fire-for-having-an-average-age-of-9-75
http://www.allkpop.com/2009/04/kim_hyun_joong_rushed_to_the_hospital
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