
BTS/Photo = Big Hit Entertainment
North Korean propaganda media have raised claims that BTS and Black Pink are being treated as slaves.
On the 13th, the North Korean media Arirang Meari said, “South Korean youth singers are subordinate to conglomerates and forced to live a miserable life.” He said.

/Photo = Screen capture of Arirang Echo, the propaganda media of North Korea
In addition, referring to BTS and Black Pink, which are gaining popularity around the world, “A large number of youth singers have signed exclusive contracts with large companies related to art including SM Entertainment at an early age in elementary and junior high school, and are receiving popular song singer education. “Large companies thoroughly block them, sleep 2-3 hours a day and force severe training, and most of the proceeds are being sucked up in the name of training expenses,” he said.
In addition, “it is the same as living in a prison without iron bars because many youth singers suffer from mental and physical pain, such as severe human insults and pains during the harsh training process, and in the case of young female singers being forced into sexual entertainment by politicians and businessmen.” Insisted.
In addition, he said, “I am dying myself while leaving a suspicion of living, and since I was a child, I was bound by an incredibly unfair contract and incarcerated at the training ground.” He also accused him of being deprived of his soul and being treated as a slave.”

Black Pink/Photo = YG Entertainment
Arirang Echo is not accessible in Korea, but as the news of the report became known, reactions continued, saying, “It’s ridiculous to see vain claims related to K-pop even in North Korea.” In addition, he was surprised by saying, “Do you know BTS and Black Pink even in North Korea?”
According to North Korean media reports, North Korean experts interpreted that K-pop’s global popularity was recognized in North Korea, and that some problems were expanded and criticized as a whole.
In particular, since the time of the report is the day before the BTS’s Grammy Awards performance, there are also reactions saying, “Isn’t that the purpose of being wary of the spread of the popularity of Korean idols to North Korea?”
Reporter Kim So-yeon, Hankyung.com [email protected]
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