K-Pop Idols Eye Unionization: Labor Rights, Debt, and Exploitation Concerns
Former Teen Top member C.A.P has been appointed head of the preparatory committee for Korea’s first idol labor union, aiming to launch within the year. The Idol Labor Union Preparatory Committee seeks to protect the rights of idol singers and pop culture workers, with more than ten idols expressing interest, including Ailee. The committee emphasizes the need for entertainment agencies to adopt standardized protocols to safeguard performers’ mental health and legal rights. The union’s establishment report was submitted to the Ministry of Employment and Labor in September.
John Q. Hosedrinker