Former Trainees Reveal Sponsorship Offers

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

The April 19 episode of MBC’s “PD Notebook” focuses on the dark side of the costs of being idol singers and trainees.

A former trainee reveals her experiences receiving sponsorship offers (receiving monetary aid and favors in exchange for sexual relations). She says, “When I was attending a vocal academy, my teacher asked, ‘What kind of singer do you want to be?’ I answered, ‘I want to be an idol,’ my teacher replied, ‘Can you [have a] sponsor?’ When I said no, my teacher said, ‘Then quit.’”



The former trainee reveals another instance and confesses, “We were training, me and other female trainees. Then some people we had never seen before walked in and out [of the room]. They were men.

We thought they were there to see the department head or the CEO. But they were there to pick amongst the trainees in person.

They said if I meet them twice a month they would give me 5 million won (approximately $4400). I’m really conservative but I was a little tempted for a moment when I heard that.”

“PD Notebook” also shared the case of a male trainee who had received sponsorship offers as well.

Pann: Shocking male trainee sponsor

To trainees who don't have time for part time jobs, sponsor offers are hard to turn down. One 24 year old trainee revealed, "The sponsors start off by giving you an allowance in small increments like $80, $100, $200 at first. Then one suddenly said she'd give me a bigger amount and sent me $1,000. I was shocked and asked her if it was okay for me to accept this and she said, 'It's for you, just take it. Don't you have things to buy?'

After about four months, she started texting me saying, 'I'm so lonely lately, can you come over?' When I brought up her husband, she told me that he was away on a business trip and wouldn't be coming home. They ask for skinship or for you to stay the day with them. They're direct with what they want and ask you to come and be with them.

I realized that this was wrong even though I had already received the money and promised her that I would pay her back once I was successful if she stopped contacting me with these things. Then she took out a history of transactions of all the money she gave me and said, 'I gave you this much and you dare betray me?' I realize how crazy it all is but you don't know that in the moment. Everyone around you is like, 'Take it, take it, she's offering to sponsor you, why not?'

All of it came out to be about $20-30,000 in the end. I have nothing saved up and I have to work but there's no work for me to do. Sponsors have left me with nothing but debt."

1. [+141, -2] How do you just blindly accept up to $30,000 from someone? Now he's left with all this debt because he was chasing free things

2. [+117, -3] There's a problem with the person accepting that money too..;;

3. [+108, -0] No such thing as free in this world

4. [+73, -0] He's a male kkot-baem ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He obviously knew there were strings attached to that money but he acts all innocent in the end like he didn't know ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

5. [+55, -1] Honestly female trainees have no choice if they're forced into it by older men but I feel like male trainees have the option to run if they don't want to do something...

6. [+35, -0] I'd be shocked and suspicious if someone offered to give me $100 ㅋㅋ is he that naive? Nothing is free in this world, why would you accept that kind of money without questioning the motives?

7. [+33, -0] This is why young kids have no place in the industry and require extensive character lessons. It's hard to get out of it once you dip your feet into the dirty world of the industry. Take care of yourselves in your teens... otherwise your head will be just as empty as your body.

8. [+28, -0] There is never free money without motive..

9. [+25, -0] He's an idiot, how do you take up to $30,000 without questioning her. He should've asked her to stop once she offered $1,000. Don't take the money and act all innocent like you're the victim after you've spent it all.

10. [+15, -0] I don't blame him, everyone changes in the face of money. Imagine being that young and someone suddenly offers you $1,000, how many of you could resist?

source: soompi, mydaily, pann via netizenbuzz

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/reminisce__/]

Eugh, terrible netizen comments cherrypicked by Netizenbuzz as usual. These poor, vulnerable young trainees :(

[happydirections.livejournal.com]

[+55, -1] Honestly female trainees have no choice if they're forced into it by older men but I feel like male trainees have the option to run if they don't want to do something...

stop.

[sforza.livejournal.com]

I feel like these are the same people who insist guys can't be raped. It's disgusting and upsetting, ugh

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

GOSH this one bothered me so much.

[fantaesticbaby.livejournal.com]

mte this is awful

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

This comment made me want to punch a wall.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

This mentality is terrifying. Young male trainees are just as vulnerable as female ones

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

Those comments tho:

[milkmp3.livejournal.com]

mfte, jaebum!

[lizanka23.livejournal.com]

This is messed up when the idols barely make anything at the start of their career. It could become their main source of income :/ if it were just a way to make extra money along with their idol pay then that would be ok but not being able to refuse because youre desperate is sad. This is why im happy some groups have crowdfunding campaigns. It makes me think theyre not using sponsors or atleast the ones that dont want to

[spainawards2008.livejournal.com]

I agree. It sounds bad to use crowdfunding in a way but at least the money is coming from fans who just want new music rather than sponsors who want god knows what. Crowdfunding all the way

[lizanka23.livejournal.com]

yeah crowdfunding is definitely not the best way to go about it. the companies themselves are probably incompetent with finances and instead of coming up with longterm soluations they're just doing crowdfunding or pushing their idols into sponsorships so it's easier for them. i feel like some of the groups i stan won't last for long

[fiercediva.livejournal.com]

If the netizens think these kind of offers and coercion only happen in showbiz, they're sadly mistaken.

[kaykaydelight.livejournal.com]

This is sad but unfortunately that's how the industry works. There will always be predators and manipulators where power is. We try to stay blissfully ignorant but I'm sure many of our faves have dabbled in these kind of things. The people speaking up are usually the ones that didn't want to go that route.

[cafetin99.livejournal.com]

This is horrible, and the worst part it's that I don't think this is a uncommon practice... and not only for idols...

[evilcoc0nut.livejournal.com]

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

One of the only that actually isn't talking out of their bootyhole.

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

These netizens really don't know how to put themselves in anyone's shoes, do they? Everything's so shady and crappy and 5 needs to f*ck off :|

[mamamoos.livejournal.com]

terrible comments from the netz. this is manipulation and abuse, of course.

on another note, i recently read the house of mirth and this reminded me of it.

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

it really makes me wonder how many successful idols had to do these kinds of things. a significant percentage, no doubt. it's really saddening. i still feel so bad for g.na.

[demeulemeester.livejournal.com]

probably all of them if they're not from a big company, and perhaps a percentage who are from a big company too.

[carra-mia.livejournal.com]

The worst part for me was that about some stranger men walking in&out of room just to... pick a girl for themselves?! Like those girl were completly in the dark about this + being treated like some pieces of meat on a display, like breathing products whos only purpose is to be used, totally dehumanized...

[unbroken-glass.livejournal.com]

this response is disgusting, yet not quite surprising..... the account of the strange men walking into the room and picking them out from a line is really disturbing, these poor trainees.

the sad thing is from what i've seen many ifans don't even believe of the possibility of current idols having sponsors. Should have seen the attacks I got when I commented a friend of mine who used to work in the industry as a translator told me that if you're not in the big 3 or at least really big companies, the chances of you having a sponsor is almost 100% :/

[ponpirot.livejournal.com]

ifans can be so naive, but I think it's just kpop marketing doing it's work. kpop is innocent and pure, they couldn't possibly be using the casting couch just like western stars~

I feel badly for the kids because they're taken from their parents, worked to the bone on top of their schooling when here comes an older person with money who offers to make their lives easier. I can understand the dilemma.

[chihana11.livejournal.com]

Of course they all do. I bet most of the idols working today had a sponsor.

[fibuarymarch.livejournal.com]

the chances of you having a sponsor is almost 100%
this sad likely truth, ugh

[demeulemeester.livejournal.com]

trainees are so young and it seems like to even have a chance of debuting they must have a sponsor. older men and women preying on young girls and boys is so awful.

[kamoteatmani.livejournal.com]

But this victim blaming...

[snowyirees.livejournal.com]

Honestly, if I wanted to become an idol and didn't manage to secure a spot in the Big 3, I'd give up and put my energy elsewhere. Breaking into any kind of industry is hard enough as it is, but if you don't have strong agency backing then the chances of exploitation and coercion increase exponentially.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

Same. Idols in general are over worked but at least idols from the big three have a higher chance of success if they debut.