After School were once paid less than minimum wage

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

On December 1, former After School member and actress Lee Joo Yeon appeared on the cable channel FashionN beauty program “Please Take Care of My Vanity Table 2.” Current After School and Orange Caramel member Lizzy is an assistant MC on the show.

During the show, Lizzy said, “We promoted our song ‘Bang!’ in Japan for six months, but we only received 360,000 won (about $308). At the time, we said to ourselves, ‘We should just work part-time at a convenience store.'”

Lee Joo Yeon added, “It was less than the minimum wage. Our members liked to eat a lot so we had a lot of food expenses on the company account.”

“Please Take Care of My Vanity Table” aims to share celebrity beauty tips as well as find new uses for beauty products that they no longer use.



Article: Lizzy, "After School was paid 360,000 won for promos in Japan, less than minimum wage"
Source: Mydaily via Nate

"After School promoted a lot in Japan. We were fairly popular but only got paid 360,000 won for 6 months of work. Thinking about it now, it was less than minimum wage. We liked eating so we spent a lot on food. At the time, we were saying that we'd make more money working part time at a convenience store instead."

1. [+719, -31] 360,000 won??? Are they crazy?? Pretty sure they didn't go through years of training just to make that kind of money ㅠㅜ

2. [+578, -18] By getting paid, she's talking about the money they were given after all of the travel expenses were taken out, right? So did they stay at VIP hotels and eat luxury meals every day or what?

3. [+555, -23] Hul...

4. [+52, -2] Their company's a thug

5. [+41, -2] ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Yeah, they really would be better off working part time somewhere else

6. [+30, -4] Sounds like they're 100% on the verge of disbandment, otherwise why would she talk about stuff like this. She really sounds like she doesn't have 1% of affection left for them.

7. [+28, -2] Hul... As impressive as celebrities look on the outside, it's really exploitation on the inside ㅠㅠ

8. [+27, -1] Just a flashy looking slave is all they are...

9. [+21, -1] Huk, I don't really get it. KARA promoted in Japan too and made a ton of money, enough to buy houses and stuff. Not that KARA and After School are at the same level but making 360,000 won in 6 months? How did that happen? Is there more staff in their agency? We need a better explanation
- They just didn't make enough money..

10. [+15, -4] Honestly, what group really is popular in Japan other than SNSD and KARA? Every other girl group just gave it a try after seeing Soshi and KARA's popularity there... I doubt any of them turned a profit after all the promo expenses went out.

11. [+14, -0] It was the cute groups like KARA that pulled in popularity in Japan... After School was not even that big there, I'm surprised they managed to turn a profit at all. I bet their Japanese agency is in the reds...

12. [+11, -0] If they were under FNC, they would've gotten paid 6 years later, not 6 months later..

13. [+9, -1] It's nothing to be so shocked over. That amount is after all of their living expenses have been taken out. They ate well, did everything they wanted, better than any of us probably, and was paid what was left. Not a big deal.

sources: soompi insight netizenbuzz mydaily

Comments

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

That's each right?! PLEASE SAY SO

At this point I'm waiting for the official disbandment announcement and for Nana to fly - Jessica Jung.mp3 to a new agency.

[supersunshiner.livejournal.com]

this is the saddest thing ever like even hellovenus had to leave to prosper








i really hope pledis girls thrives

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

i don't know if they're really prospering right now lol... :'( also it wasn't so much them leaving as pledis & fantagio ending their partnership for... reasons i'm not sure of?

[jeit91.livejournal.com]

ouch that sucks. but I wonder what the company of these idol groups cover/what benefits idols get. im sure they get their housing, food and travel covered and im sure they get sponsored clothing. Count in all the gifts they get from fans (if they take them), what else would you have to pay for by yourself? Would that money just be for play money or any other luxury?

[dickslikejesus.livejournal.com]

Most companies don't provide "benefits" outside of putting together your comeback and all that stuff. Typically the way it works is you are put in debt for your trainee costs (costs of training and housing) which is what you work off first. During that time, any food expenses, travel expenses, and housing expenses are also taken out of your pay. The portion of the money you get is after your company takes out the lion share on the general contract agreement, and then whatever part of your take home that is taken to repay your debt.

Most idols take home pay is less than what someone with a full time job would get, but "overall" they're making far more since their housing and travel is being taken out before they get their take home money.

This ONLY applies to smaller labels, less successful acts etc. This doesn't necessarily apply to the big three (though no one can be for sure since we only get little details and if DBSK's lawsuit was showing us anything it's that the big three are probably just as bad.)

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

yep, true. i think netizens have a valid point for once - they dont have to pay for their rent, their food, transportation etc. they get sponsored clothes and other stuff and gifts from fans. their "pay" is like pocket money, not much, but they dont have to starve (unless they're on a diet lol).

chanyeol recently purchased a new mercedes worth 315,000 USD, soshi all have their own buildings/houses, so yeah the big ones make probably more

[dickslikejesus.livejournal.com]

Well no here's the issue. When you say they "don't pay" you're kind of sending the wrong image. They DO pay that money, just not in the traditional sense that we're used to. They pay it before they even see the money, similarly to how most people end up paying taxes etc. The problem with that lies in the amount, let's say you don't make enough spending cash to eat when you want. This means your meals are entirely provided by your company and that's the only food, and the only time you'll eat. There's a lot of artists that go on shows where they get to eat and mention that they haven't been able to eat all day. You could say this is from them being so busy, but it's most likely that their company has yet to provide a meal /OR/ that they only eat when they're at home because their company provides groceries and they don't make enough spending cash.

So it just depends, with After School there is a significant reason to believe they WERE starving or at least close to it because they've brought up the lack of food issue before. It seems very likely that Pledis really slacked on providing their artists with a decent living experience. Also not all idol groups get sponsored clothes, or gifts from fans that's enough to sustain them. I don't disagree that netizens might be onto something, but it's important that it's represented properly.

Chanyeol most likely didn't spent the cash straight up, second if it's anything like DBSK then he didn't buy the car, the car was bought for him and that provides a whole other issue (SM tried to use the car excuse with JYJ but JYJ didn't purchase those vehicles, SM did and "gifted" them and apparently promptly took them back when they sued IIRC) also yeah eventually on a bigger label you're going to catch up to your costs and turn a profit. Unfortunately it's very very likely that it's only 10%-30% of idol groups that turn significant profit like that so the rest of the people are hurting.

[la-geni.livejournal.com]

To add to the other comment, it even works the same in the US. A lot of artists end up broke because they always get forwarded millions per contract but they don't realize till after they sign, that all that money goes into making the MVs, studio time, producers, living costs etc In Korea they pay as they work it seems. Like for example YG was over here talking about how 2ne1s MV cost almost a million dollars but all expenses are taken out of their earnings. Nothing is done for free, that's why artists get into advertising and acting.

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

If 99.9% of idols' income goes to paying off their debt and covering basic expenses, these idols are still not 'making money' in the sense that they can't save and build up a fortune. By the time their idols lives end, they will pretty much have made zero money? That's not healthy. The big three companies pay a bit better to their more established artists, but for the ones from smaller companies.... being an idol costs more than it makes. (Recall how Baby J mentioned she had to work at like McDonalds and stuff after Jewelry broke up because she was not getting work?)

[dickslikejesus.livejournal.com]

^ This comment sums up my response to another comment really nicely and with a good example. I totally forgot about that thing with Baby J

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

Baby J's story was a sad example of how a) as an idol you hardly make money and b) your company will do absolutely nothing to provide you with a steady flow of work. It's sad really :(

[jaequeeragenda.livejournal.com]

woowwwww

[mjspice.livejournal.com]

I legit can't even omg.

This makes me wonder what happening with J-pop groups like AKB.

[hinadori.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's that bad for domestic acts. With foreign acts, the Japanese management takes a chunk of the earnings then the Korean management takes a chunk so it's like double dipping by management. Goes to show if you're not popular, it's really difficult to make money in the Japanese market after everything gets divided up.

Plus Japanese groups don't have the same setup as the Korean idol system where they're trained & housed for years under the expense of the company which you then have to pay back. I remember b/c when Kara & SNSD was at the height of their popularity, a Japanese TV program did a little comparison of the 2 countries' idol systems. The Japanese girls were like I can't imagine living with other members after seeing them for work all day long, etc.

[calzonazos.livejournal.com]

J-pop groups in big agencies/record labels like AKB get a fixed salary every month, and from what I've read, this is commonplace in the j-ent industry. Idols and entertainers are more like salaried workers in a company, it seems. Besides as someone else pointed out, the training expenses are fewer (one AKB ex-member once said she joined the group because she needed money and the training and lessons were free).

Underground J-pop idols have it much more difficult as their only way of making a profit comes from things like merchandise or signed photos with fans, but that money also helps paying for costumes, booking stages, etc, so a lot of indie idols have to work part-time to make ends meet (like many k-drama actors)

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

i'd love to see a contract of the AKB girls. this sounds actually quite nice and not as horrible as SM

[lechuza-yoya.livejournal.com]

lizzy the she gonna renew?

this poor idol, somebody do something for them!

[fabulousdoll.livejournal.com]

This a bit OT but every time I see a new photo of Lizzy I get so sad :( I can't barely recognize her and she looks extremely thin (or is the correct word skinny?). I know everyone is free to do whatever they want and maybe I'm just overthinking, but I always feel bad about the pressure idols have to look a certain way and I can't stop thinking if what I see now is a result of that.
I just hope she is happy and healthy U_U

Edit: I just read some comments from the fans on her instagram saying that she said she wants to gain weight but can't. Anyone knows something more about it?

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

Lizzy in Running Man was the reason I got into AS at all.

I agree with you, she should have stayed. She had great chemestry with the rest of the cast and was funny & charming enough on her own to stand out.

I was so excited when it was announced she would guest in RM again, but she was so visually nervous that all she did was laugh and clap; it was actually kinda awkward. I'm sad and mad that she was away from variety for so long that she lost her touch.

[lovebeat-down.livejournal.com]

12. [+11, -0] If they were under FNC, they would've gotten paid 6 years later, not 6 months later..

that fnc shade 😂

on a serious note, that is sad the girls deserved way more for all their hard work

[boxcuttergirl.livejournal.com]

there's no way they aren't disbanding if she's saying stuff like this

[dio-elaclaire.livejournal.com]

luxury? eating well? most idols barely eat and sleep on the floors. wtf.

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

i'm surprised the girls got picked up by avex to begin with tbh. their japanese stuff is great but they never got anywhere in japan sadly

[iskerplunk.livejournal.com]

just put after school and their stans out of misery already. idg why they cant just say that the groups over???

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

:(((( as much as i want an after school comeback, with a company like this perhaps it's better if they would not renew

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

this is not surprising. am i the only one who remembers the kara lawsuit from 2011 iirc? when four of them sued dsp bc they got paid little for their work in japan? what a mess that was.