The Dark Side of the Korean Entertainment Industry (and how you can help) 

The concept of Hello Counselor was good but the entire show helped absolutely no one.

Hello Counselor never helps anyone. They mock everyone’s situations. Especially situations as horrific as this one. This show should be cancelled. Shouldn’t have even been a thing. I hope everyone you mentioned in this video gets the justice that they deserve.

Ofc. There’s a lot of controversies revolving Korean industries

I clicked so fast my wifi couldn't keep up The queen uploaded

Along with the (sad) trend of physical abuse in Kpop, I was reminded of the C-pop group Mr Tyger. They’re on idol producer and a section of the show shed light on what they go through in training. Their company *beats* them with baseball bats. Literally flogging them for MINOR mistakes and they pass out consistently or just have their legs give out. It’s sickening, and so heart breaking that this show literally thought showing this on TV portrayed their “hard work” and wasn’t at all abuse. There’s all this evidence that correct treatment with good breaks produces more productive workers yet it’s still ignored and idols are treated so trashy , especially by smaller companies. Something definitely needs to change, and fast.

I'm pretty sure the entertainment industry in general is disgusting. I really hope that ATEEN and The East Lightwill get justice.

I am so happy you added the east light aswell. Usually people don’t add them cause they don’t know them nor about what happened to them, but it is one of the most horrific stories I’ve heard of child abuse. They were kids who payed for instruments just cause they wanted to play and do what they love, staying with the abuse for years just because they didn’t want to give up, and held on to those last strings of hope that things would get better. No one deserves that kind of treatment, and I hope those people who made The East Light’s life a living hell - can rot in a cell where they belong.

To be honest, I will NEVER understand why people want to be K-pop idols. I'm not trying to ruin their dreams or whatever, but being an idol in the Korean industry is a living hell and is SO much more worse compared to the western industry.

The East Light situation is so confusing since the other members say that the brothers lied, so I don't know who to believe.

I've been wanting to know what you taught about this. Great job on the video Rose. Keep up the great work.

I drop everything when Rosé trash uploads because she always brings us good content.

I don't even know abt the the east light situation, I'm so heartbroken to hear that. I hope that they get better and out of that situation, also the the rest of the people in the video

There have been more episodes of hello counselor, where the kid is being sexually harassed and they do nothing but tell the parent to stop doing it, without any actual help. I remember this one episode where this 15 year old guy came and said his mom always tells him to "use a condom", "not masturbate too much" and whenever she enters his room, she asks him is he masturbating, even when he is with his friends. It was so disturbing. The boy even said that he feels his mom is sexually assaulting him, and says even his dad agrees but they just laugh it off. Some problems are so severe like people with depression, people who admit to have had suicidal thoughts, etc. But they all just take it so lightly because obviously they are comedians, not actual professionals. P.s in this episode he also admitted to... God I can't type this... Having a "habit" of touching his mother's breasts, and also humiliating his wife (the woman) by touching her breasts in public, and saying " so small ". He is honestly such a sick person.

I haven’t watched it all yet ...(since it came out a minute ago) but I love every single one of your videos. You honestly just bring the utmost class and information with almost all of your videos and it’s so great to see. I hope school is going well! 💜💜

i was hoping for one if these i just wanted to see someone else opinion on it and if anyone im so happy its you

#endHELLocounselor

The hello counselor situation is explained more in detail in a video by DkDktv that shows how Koreans think about the situation.

It's really sad about what happens to so many idols and trainees. The whole idol system is very abusive and exploitative in general. These kids need so much more rights and protections. I don't know why anyone would want to become an idol.

When I heard about that hello counselor thing, I was absolutely disgusted. And like,, the reactions of the audience? It's so wrong and disturbing.

WHY AREN'T MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THESE STUFF?!! CAN PEOPLE STOP PRETENDING THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT KPOP AND KOREA IS PERFECT.

Last time I was this early black and pink were just colors

I'm glad that you are using your platform to spread awareness. This is incredibly heartbreaking to watch and hear but no as much as those who were affected by this. Thank you for mentioning where we can help too.

About that Hello Counselor episode, this thing where he touches his son's private parts, that is actually quite common in Korea, in the sense that some relative (like grandmas o uncles) may touch the kids parts to show that they're proud of what they have or something. Obviously, this can lead to many uncomfortable situations where it might not be taken seriously bc of this. Obviously what this parent is doing is WRONG, but I think it helps a little to see the whole culture context.

I feel like these topics are very important topics to discuss . Especially since people tend to view the entertainment industry as a kind of utopia where no harm can be done because it's purpose is to convey joy and entertainment . We must always keep in mind that nothing is ever perfect and try to support and help our idols as much as we can and hope they come out of it all okay . I'm glad you decided to bring these topics up because people really do need to understand that we don't always know what goes on behind the scenes .

Honestly you really opened my eyes with everything you’ve said in this video especially hello counselor. I would watch the show (still do sometimes) and there’d be segments that honestly are just horrible. For example I watched this one where this mom complained about her son lying to her and how she wanted him to change but they ended up finding out how she abused him and threatened him while even praising his younger siblings in front of him and it just makes me wonder how people can just come on the show to explain their concerns when sometimes the one being questioned about their concerns have more to say about the entire situation.

The East Light situation did get a lot of attention. But it never lasts, like always.

This is so depressing. I almost cried. Especially during the part where you were explaining about the ATEEN incident 😢

I’ve never clicked so fast I do hope Ateen does get justice for what they’ve gone through and I pray the sopa students pull through and they also get justice

A Webtoon called ‘Lookism’ shows the reality of Korea, so if you want RJ know more about this, then I suggest you read it.

Omg thank you for this ❤️

I just came upon your channel with the #justiceforATEEN This story makes me feel hurt and disgusted. Like they were just so young and they haven't reach a age where they will have girlfriends. I hope this story is spread everywhere. Kpop idols are supposed to live their dream not to be mentally damage. I want justice for them sincerley. Also I'm a new subscriber to your channel . keep an update to this story . 💖

thank you for making these videos. as fans of the korean entertainment industry we cant just turn a blind eye when stuff like this happens. so its really helpful when youtubers like you help spread the info in a good way.

Can’t wait to watch this. I already know how dark the entertainment industry is ( in general ), not just the Korean industry. So scary 😭

I love how this channel is more different than other “tea spilling” channels out there. You really imply facts and it makes me interested more in your videos and your channel itself. *Thank you for making my stubborn ass subscribe* ❤️❤️

the east light was a group i regularly listened to and the fact that this is hardly talked about breaks my heart. thank you for talking about this.

I think hello counselor is a good show for things like ‘my friend goes out too much’ or ‘ my mom won’t stop making the same food’ (not real episodes but you get what I mean) I really really don’t think problems like the one showed here or other abuse, neglect, or neglect should be shown and should be dealt with in much more serious ways. anyway I loved the video thank you for bringing all these up and just laying out the facts and giving us ways to support idols and students

I still remember when news of the East Light's abuse broke and I was so shocked that I genuinely cried. I wanted to help, but we can't do much except for raising awareness, and I felt so horrible and sad for these poor boys. They are literal children, they are even younger than me! I'm so happy that several people involved in their abuse got in jail and/or were indicted pretty quickly, but the ordeal is still not over, several people deny their involvement in this and accuse the boys and their parents of lying, even though they have the recordings. I just hope that they get some justice, at least that would give them some sense of safety and show them that people do care about them, and if the abusers receive harsh sentences, it will discourage other people in similar position from acting the same way. SM, YG and JYP all have their fair share of issues with mistreatment of their artists, but the artists from small companies suffer the most, because these companies get basically no media attention and much less governmental oversight than the Big Three and medium sized companies. They can get away with almost everything that they want, and their artists also usually have the worst contracts, like full on slave-contracts. I know that pretty much every enterainment industry in every country has systemic issue with abuse and sexual assault, especially of minors and women and girls, but it really does seem to me that the South Korean entertainment industry is one of the worst when it comes to this. Why, I can't exactly pinpoint, but I think it has to do with the fact that rape and sexual assault and harrassment are still largely seen as an individual and not a cultural problem, and that victim blaming is very bad there. Their very old-fashioned, often plain sexist ideas of what a "proper woman" should look and act like contribute, too. The hierarchial society also makes it easier to abuse young people in one's care with little fear of retribution, like these cases examplify perfectly. The Kpop industry has gotten bigger with becoming more international, the market is so oversaturated, and so many young people are willing to endure almost anything to make their dreams of becoming a musician come true. The fact that vulnerable young people just trying to make it get abused so often, and many people still seem to not care is repulsive. However, on a somewhat positive note, I feel like more and more cases like this are brought to light because of the growing success of the MeToo-Movement in Korea (and in many countries around the world). The fact that these scandals are coming out in the first place is a good thing, because that means that the victims feel like they have a higher chance of being believed and receiving justice nowadays, and the more cases come out and hopefully are successful in court, the more other victims will be encouraged. It might become a snowball effect. Just imagine what our favorite idols might have had to suffer through, what they would never dare to talk about. As much as it hurts to read about these cases, I do hope that more of them come to light and receive justice, because just because we don't hear about them doesn't mean they aren't continuously happening. I'd prefer victims feel comfortable coming out to the public with these things over my own personal comfort any day. This could be a chance for the entire industry to get better, even just a little bit, even if it's not out of a sense of "We should do the right thing" but because of a fear of retribution. I hope more people become aware of the often abhorrent treatment of Korean celebrites (especially their own idols if they are being mistreated in some way by their companies) and push for higher standards.

Thank you for taking about it on hello counsellor they just try to make the concern into something funny instead of trying to help

Hey our queen could you make a video of the case on Seungri?? We would love to listen to your opinion.

Your voice is so soothing, like Queen is giving me ASMR! 😍💕

oh god this is such a depressing yet needed video :(

I love your videos!!! You are so woke on everything! K-pop is not what most of the fans think ..all these incidents are so horrible

I've loved the east light for a long time so when I first heard the news my heart just broke

I am in shock. I heard about the first two stories but the others are just as bad or worse. These poor people absolutely don't deserve that type of treatment. Thanks for bringing awareness to this stuff.

Those who come out about abuse have killed their career but they shed a light on the dark side of the industry. They are willing to give up the potential to fame and riches, to stop the abuse of future potential victims. Not many people would do that...

The east light thing made me tear up. It’s so horrible

Hello Counselor is literally The Dr. Phil show but in South Korea

Glad you're talking about this. How do you help these kids

Rosetrash video on Seungri plss❣️❣️

Every time I hear about The East Light situation I just burst into tears

#justice4ateen

can you also do a vid on mr tyger a cpop group? i know it isn't kpop but if we're gonna be talking about abuse of idols and trainees i feel like this is something that has to be talked about. please consider it as im sure it will help the group

I’m waiting for a video about seungri

I'm sick of these industries and also sick of people who pay more attention to dating news or sth stupid like drug usage more than SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE WHAT WE HE HAVE HERE

Hey just wondering if you could maybe do a video about everything’s that’s happening to Seungri (bigbang) i would love to hear your opinion on the topic

I’m gonna try to help because I understand how their feeling

I watched DKDKTV and they also spoke about both incidents very detailedly. For the Hello Counsler, there was a point that I would like to make. Though I do not condone him doing it for the amount of time apparantly it is something that all Korean men do or family members do to little boys growing up. Though it may seem odd for us and inappropriate it is a part of a cultural thing we do not understand. Which is the reason why the wife wasn't like fiercely angry or disturbed but just in a way still disturbed. They made a point about how people who don't understand or know the culture jump into something without knowing the history. I can't explain well but definitely check out their video

It's not Darkside It's reality

guess I’ll give up my dream of being a kpop idol

you always talk about the real shit and i appreciate that, and you don't just treat idol abuse like "tea" either, always respectfully

This is just not okay. The SOPA thing really hit me hard. All those people who have a dream of becoming an artist and just want to go to school ... I really can't imagine something like that happening and I hope they get helped. The Hello Counselor thing was also too much. Even though the boy was only 5, he was clearly uncomfortable with his father's touching. Also, it's very inappropriate and the child will have traumas of this when he's older. They should really do something about that too. And then lastly, ATEEN and TEL ... They're just two groups who had to deal with something like that, but who knows how many groups are out there, dealing with the same shit? It's just really not okay. Non of them are ... And I really really hope it gets better ...

**rethinks life decisions**

On hello councilor theres always a guy on the right saying "I don't think this is a problem" Like wth you're there to help them not dictate if it's a problem or not. And the situation with that kid and his father is absolutely disgusting. Like I hope he gets arrested for that. Its like the father has no shame what's so ever

PREACH

Don't forget two the eastlight member's claim the brother are lying.

알아요😭

I'm surprised you said not many had heard about The East Light, it was all over my feed in January! Also the leader is Lee Seok-cheol...I guess you could have been calling him by his last name by referring to him as Lee, but it came off as sounding like you thought his first name was Lee, not his family name. Otherwise, a nice researched video :).

I swear some people are so effed up in the head.. The last incident and the ateen one tho😢

I think it's sad and disturbing that you need multiple people just to see and help adult abuse victims and child abuse to get them in legal trouble.

I see sopa students so i immediately tap the video i am so worried because jungkook also study in this school

Everything needs justice... Where is the Justice system? What happened to it?

*damn.* 😔

the counsellor part? disturbing. THEE FUCK? could you imagine someone in the West saying this on national tv????! THEEEE FUUUUCK

um I know this a weird request but can you make a video on a band called Mr. Tyger..I know they are C-Pop but I really want others to know about the abuse they are going through..I really want to help them but I don't have anything to help them with..plz plz plz make a video

I'm Korean and when you go to one city, there are millions of people that smoke

As for Hello Councilor, I appreciate that they had that family on. Normal people are like that too. So many kids experience that kind of behavior from their parents. It needed public attention.

honestyy i’m kind of glad that man went on hello counselor so he can be put in jail please... also, please send support to the sopa students, east light, and ateen!!!

I go to a public high school for like waiters and waitresses, but more serious, like those who work at high end hotels, have to know how to arrange tables for tea parties and stupid shit like that. And one day a week we have practical class in a hotel that is like our second school (since out shool and that hotel are connected and work almost like one institution) They are exploiting us. Whenever they are hierd to work for someone and oranize a party they use students as work staff in a name of "practical class". All this isn't as bad when you think that you are getting expiriance but when its like weddings and its hard work and they get paid for work we do there (I can bet they do, there is no way they don't get paid) and do you think some of the students ever got paid? Ofc not. Also by the law underage kids have to be returned home to their parents before 22h (in our country there is that kind of law, so schools that take us on a day trip have to return us to our parents before 22h) and sometimes it happened that my friends returned home at 3am! And all that wouldn't be so bad if the so called "professors" at that hotel weren't such dickheads. They have such inferiority conplex I can't even. Like they keep constantly repeating to you that the hotel doesnt need us, we need the hotel (yeah you don't need 40+ ppl that work for free, just stop, don't say stuff you don't even belive in) and are always bitching when we stand in one place bcs, guess what I HAVE NOTHING TO DO. All work that was to be done, we finished it. And since its a hotel there isn't many ppl that just come to the restourant, usually only guests of the hotel come by (but not very often, its like rly rare bcs restourant is mostly empty for the day unless there is some lunch organized for more ppl). Once I was in a bad mood bcs I worked for whole week in other hotel for block practice and I was tired, and I thought we will have one day free before New Year (bcs that block praticl lasts for 6 days and it was before New Year Eve) and they still told us to come on december 30th for practical class and we worked 1h more then usual. I had a headache, do you think someone cared? Nope. And later at the half of the school year I asked what grade will I have, they told me C. I flipped. I come always in time, do what I asked from me, always polite with guests and do you know for what I got C inseatd of A? Bcs I was "moody" 2 times (not like moody but more like not in a good mood) and that was once that day before New Year bcs I had headache I was kinda pissed off at everything but tried not to show it. And second time when they changed my shift to time I simply dont have buses to come in time (and at that time there were some protests in the city so I was even more late) but at school organizator of practical class told me the shift starts at 6pm and ends at 22pm. When i got there they told me that dinner starts at 21pm and the earliest it will end it 23h (spoiler alert it ended at 2am) I just went home bcs they tricked me to come saying it starts and ends early so I would come (bcs if I knew actual time theres no way in hell i would have came) and I dont have buses that late. Honestly they give out good grates to who ever they like, and ones they don't like they give bad grades and make up some shit excuse for that grade. And some ppl that just state their opinion or ask why they got the grate they don't deserve (like my C since I at least should have gotten B or A) they take that as us being rude and disrespectful.

Does anyone have a link to the controversial hello counselor episode?

ROsETRASH I THOUGHT BIG BANG WAS YOUR FAV . I want to hear their personal opinion about seungri

Can someone help me sign the petition? I don’t understand it idk how to sign!!

About the hello counsellor thing I think u guys shld watch dkdktvs explanation of it bc they explain why it wasn’t a big deal to he mcs and why reaction was not so disgusted That doesn’t justify what happened but it explains how Korea dealt with the situation

In the latest episode they brought an expert. The little girl was obese but wanted to try lose weight. It was a good thing they did that.

3:27 i watched a video abt the guy touching his kid on hello counselor and they said that in korea its sort of custom for elders to do 'that' but its never like 5-10 minuites its always like a flick from their grandparents thats why everyone was so calm about it but because the child is obviously embarassed and showing that this isnt just an innocent culture thing then its sexual abuse

So sad smh

If the ones who are abused need psychological help to recover from what they’ve experienced, then abusers need more psychological help! They didn’t become what they are all at once! They have most probably been under such pressures when they were young and this is the consequences of their experiences! We can’t just arrest them and act like they are monsters!

#justiceforateez

The episode on hello counsellor that bothered me was when a guy who was always sexually touched by his older brother was mocked, they even called up the big brother to touch him again.... And the only serious episode I liked was when jimin stood up to a girl who was picked on by her older brother because of toys... (Not because I’m an army, it was because It was different than other episodes)

Can you make video about dark side of fantagio entertiament v

I also feel that this show should end.

Sopa student is just six girls and 3 boy but so many idol from sopa like kai exo gfrend ( no leader ) and the others

sopa, ateens and the east lights stories really make me sad.... people aren’t even batting an eye at all they’ve tell them everything and are more focused on something so stupid

The A teen situation is so bad. The fact that the majority of them have to take medication because of sexual abuse? wow.

Hello Counselor is like a budget Dr.Phil. This is stupid af, a grown man touching his son's private for *FUN* of something like that is disgusting and Hello Counselor should be cancelled

omg :(

you should watch DKDKTVs video about the Hello Counselor situation

Private part?!?! PLAYING with the private part?!?! WHAT TYPE OF FATHER?!?! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUISTED!!!

Hiii

What's sad about that whole Hello Counselor episode is that you could see throughout the episode how disgusted Umji and some of the audience members were, but due to the light hearted nature of the show, it wasn't taken seriously. The father even admitted to THROWING THE KID INTO THE POOL, watching him struggle and then laughing at him when he took him out of the pool. Keep in mind, this show is broadcasted on a GOVERNMENT FUNDED STATION. The Government endorses this show. How fucked is that. Something else to keep in mind is that the police in SK have little to no power as a result of them covering up a bunch of murders in the 80's. The police cannot do much in situations like these. Sexual assault isn't seen as a big deal in SK, which it should be. Punishment for sexual assault is basically a slap on the wrist compared to what the punishments are in the west.

When will korean give this a Peace of mind???? I mean if i was a korean citizens i wont send my children to educate like this until this matter is done??? GOVERNMENT STOP HIDING THOSE STUFF AND START WORKING IN EDUCATION PEOPLE WANT THEIR KIDS IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENTS NOT A SICK DISGUSTING ENVIRONMENT