K-pop Industry Is 'In Crisis,' Say Experts
In March this year, K-pop star Karina from the group Aespa, wrote a message to fans on social media, saying sorry.
The 24-year-old said she would make things better. This was after fans had said she had betrayed them. Why?
Because she had a boyfriend.
"Isn't our love enough?" some fans said.
Life as a K-pop star is not always easy. And some say that the pressure of being famous means young people no longer dream of becoming stars in the industry.
Experts say that K-pop agencies don't treat young K-pop stars well enough.
The Korea Herald reports that the number of young men joining K-pop agencies has decreased by more than 30% in the last two to three years.
Music critic Kim Do-heon told The Korea Herald he was not surprised that the number of young men wanting to become K-pop stars is decreasing, and he thinks that the number of women will decrease too.
Those who want to make it big often have to do years of training. They also know that life as a K-pop star is quite tightly controlled — as Karina found out.
In fact, while South Korean music is still very popular in the US and around the world, some say that the industry is in crisis.
In South Korea, it has been reported that sales are falling and fans are not going as wild for the newer groups, as they once did for BTS and Blackpink.
Some say that the industry has not been helped by BTS taking a break from making music.
The future of K-pop is "uncertain," one expert told DW.
