In the world of entertainment, trends in culture, fashion, and the past works of celebrities are always under the spotlight. From the perspective of the MZ generation, we explore the ever-changing needs of viewers and the reasons behind their reactions to various events.

In December 2017 and November 2019, Jonghyun and Sulli passed away, and on April 19, 2023, Astro's Moonbin left the side of his fans at the young age of 25. K-Pop fans are mourning during this time of sorrow as tragic news about idols continues to emerge. There are voices of reflection within the industry, striving to change the system before more lives are lost.

Four years after Sulli's passing, what has changed? There's a sense of futility in the K-Pop industry, wondering if the efforts to prevent the repetition of tragedies have been in vain. Each time a tragedy occurs, 'practical management' is mentioned, which refers to mental health care through regular psychological assessments.

Industry insiders have attributed the ongoing tragedies to the societal atmosphere, as South Korea has long had a highly competitive social structure. Idols, in particular, have been encouraged to compete from a young age in pursuit of their dreams. There are concerns that if the social atmosphere doesn't change, the stories of Jonghyun, Sulli, and Moonbin will continue to repeat.

(Photo : Fantagio)
ASTRO's Moonbin Passes Away

An industry insider, Mr. A, stated, "From trainees to established idols, we are implementing continuous psychological counseling programs and inviting counselors for biannual assessments." Furthermore, "If the opinion arises that continuous observation is necessary, we provide weekly one-on-one face-to-face counseling sessions."

The industry's proposed preventative measures apply to everyone, from trainees to idol stars, with companies working to maintain their artists' psychological well-being.

However, it remains unclear whether 'psychological counseling' is the key to solving the problem. There are concerns that even if companies make an effort, it might only be seen as a superficial gesture. Another industry insider, Mr. B, expressed disappointment in the competitive social atmosphere.

Mr. B believes that "it's not just a problem with K-Pop," and "if the atmosphere itself doesn't change, it will be the same whether it's four years, four months, or forty years."

Similarly, Mr. C from the industry emphasized that "despite these efforts, the unfortunate events are not solely a systemic issue in K-Pop but a problem for everyone in the increasingly competitive and advanced South Korea."

(Photo : wikicommon/CC BY 3.0)
Instagram had officially leveled up its platform by adding new features, including memorialization, which shows on top of the user's profile name.

International media outlets such as The New York Times have reported that Moonbin's tragedy should not be interpreted as a problem unique to K-Pop. Furthermore, South Korea is known to have one of the highest suicide rates in the world, with suicide ranking among the leading causes of death for those under 40.

Competition itself isn't inherently bad. The Hallyu wave arguably started due to competition. The real issue lies in the lack of relief measures for those struggling within the competitive process. It's not just a problem with K-Pop; we must also consider the broader issue of South Korean society as a whole. [Source - TenAsia ]

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