Entertainment company sued by hair salons for refusing to pay massive debts

[aki-san.livejournal.com]

Several hair salons are suing an entertainment company whose idols who have built up a 19.32 million won (~$17,700) debt for services.

According to reports, seven idols from the same agency have asked for services from the hair salons on credit without the intention of paying off their debts.

In response to the accusations that they do not mean to pay off their debts, the agency responded that their intention is not to avoid paying. The agency continued by explaining that with over 1,000 trainees belonging to around 350 different agencies, the chances of a trainee debuting is only about 30%, and the chance that an agency will be profiting from their initial investment in the trainee is about 5%. In short, the agency believes that they cannot afford to pay for the services, as it would be putting them into more debt.

In response to the situation, netizens have criticized both the idols and the company, leaving comments of disapproval and criticism.

1. [+1,702, -14] Why should hair salons be responsible for the agencies being unable to pay for the investment of their idols?
2. [+1,184, -16] The industry is full of thugs
3. [+1,036, -16] Don’t ask for services you can’t pay for… are you beggars?

[Note: Photo above is not one of the salons mentioned]

Donga Ilbo via Koreaboo

Comments

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

Don't spend money, when you don't have any to spend. This is pretty shitty.

But I'm curious which agency they're talking about in the article. I guess it's one of the smaller ones.

Also, don't idols normally have to work off their debt? So when they go to the hair salon for treatment, wouldn't the agency not just pay for them in advance and later remove the spent amount from their salary?

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

Their entitlement level is over 9000

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

Wow, their levels of incompetence are too much to believe.
How can these morons hope to run an angecy when they lack even basic logic skills? I feel bad for the idols/trainees signed with them.

[winegums.livejournal.com]

wtf even is this.

If bitches can't afford to pay for services, then they shouldn't go around putting out idol groups. The hair salons don't deserve to get screwed out of $$$ just bc your music is crap that no one buys or you lack the skills to make an idol group successful.

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

How about you fucking shut your mouth and pay the bill?

[e-bone (from livejournal.com)]

So how do they obtain these services to begin with?? Do they just lie???

The idols are corny but SMH at the agencies for basically defending their actions.

[springsky.livejournal.com]

Ridiculous. Do your own damn hair and makeup if you can't afford to pay for it. Wtf!

[leopolitan.livejournal.com]

damn almost 20k for 7 idols? i guess they do change their hair pretty often

[a-seagreen.livejournal.com]

with all damage from styling and dyes their hair must be in constant need of treatment, i'm surprised it's not more tbh

[peacefulscream.livejournal.com]

Shave off your hair if you can't afford those services.

[shanny-w.livejournal.com]

Not cute.

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

i don't claim to know how the kpop industry works, or should work, but damn... if you need that many hairdos maybe you should have fewer idols and put more effort into the ones that you do have?

[a-seagreen.livejournal.com]

uhh what is that logic? the agency's basically admitting they're avoiding the debt until they profit from a trainee... which may be never

i wonder if the same thing happens with dermatologists and make up artists, idols constantly require their services and it's $$$$ in the long run

[921227.livejournal.com]

I've seen idols from smaller companies and their skin is awful. You can see where they've caked on the makeup to try and hide it which just makes their skin even worse tbh

[bishieaddict.livejournal.com]

Geez. That's a lame excuse. Don't get such expensive hair treatments then! Do they think the salon's a charity?

[annhh.livejournal.com]

"In response to the accusations that they do not mean to pay off their debts, the agency responded that their intention is not to avoid paying"

"In short, the agency believes that they cannot afford to pay for the services "

[welljustguess.livejournal.com]

what a honest answer from agencies, but i'm glad they're not making excuses. i hope they manage thair money well and stop recuiting trainess, and cut the contract with non-potential trainess for their company because it's only raising their hope while in the end they got nothing

[huanyia.livejournal.com]

I really want to know what agency did this