Strict Rules That K-Pop Singers Have To Follow

K-Pop is more than just music; it is a global phenomenon that captivates millions of fans worldwide. With its catchy tunes, stunning visuals, and elaborate performances, the K-Pop industry generates billions of dollars for South Korea's economy. However, this success comes with a hefty price tag, especially for the idols who are thrust into the spotlight. These performers must navigate an intricate web of rules and expectations that can often feel overwhelming.

From contract obligations to public image, K-Pop stars are under constant scrutiny. The pressures they face aren't just about their performances; they also extend into their personal lives. As Eunice Chang, a production manager in the industry, highlights, K-Pop idols do everything for their fans, often at the cost of their own well-being. The phrase "idols must be perfect" carries significant weight, leaving many performers in a state of constant anxiety as they strive to meet these lofty standards.

In this article, we will delve into the strict rules that K-Pop singers are required to follow. From maintaining a pristine public image to adhering to rules about dating and personal conduct, the life of a K-Pop idol is far from easy. Through this exploration, we will uncover the challenges they face and what it truly means to be a K-Pop star in today's society.

According to Vox, K-Pop is a "global phenomenon that brings billions of dollars to South Korea each year. Launching its so-called "idols" into superstardom, K-Pop allows performers who rise to the top of the highly competitive industry to earn the kind of fame and fortune that most people couldn't imagine. But that level of success comes at a price — a price that many would consider too high.

Those who choose the K-Pop life do what it takes to please the people who buy their albums, concert tickets, and every item of merch that’s available. Eunice Chang, a production manager who is involved with K-Pop events, appearances, and concerts, told CBC News, "[Idols] will do everything, anything for their fans because that’s the only reason for them to exist." Chang also noted that K-Pop stars aren’t likely to cause a fuss even when there’s trouble. "[W]hen you are popular, you cannot show your weak side," she explained. "People will say: 'Oh, you have everything. Why are you saying that?' They get a little judgmental."

Jeff Benjamin, a K-Pop music columnist, told CBC that even the term "idol" adds to an extreme level of expectation, saying, "Just that word in itself gives the idea that they have to be perfect — they have to be the ideal standard of entertainer. That’s a lot of pressure for a young person." That pressure seems even more extreme when you find out about the strict rules that K-Pop stars have to follow.

You Won't Find K-Pop Stars on Tinder

K-Pop fans like their idols to be single — and female performers are preferably fully chaste — which is why they’re not allowed to date. According to CNN, "some even having a 'no dating' clause in their contracts." Great Guys' Donghwi confirmed this, telling Insider, "We agreed not to have a girl in our lives, so we can focus more on our mission."

However, some stars naturally break this rule, like EXO's Chen, who announced in January 2020 that he not only has a girlfriend but that she’s pregnant and they’re getting married. Although revealing those facts wasn’t an easy task for the star. "I don’t know how to start this, and I’m very nervous," he wrote, according to Soompi. "I have a girlfriend I want to spend the rest of my life with. I was worried and concerned about the situations that would arise as a result of this decision, but ... I couldn’t lose any more time thinking about when or how I should announce this, so I mustered up my courage."

Chen was right to think he needed courage because the truth can have serious consequences for K-Pop stars. CNN points out that "[w]hen it was revealed artists HyunA and E'Dawn were a couple last month, there was an angry backlash from some apparently heartbroken fans, and the pair were subsequently suspended by their record label." So while the "no dating" rule may seem harsh, it may also be justified.

K-Pop Stars Can't Hang Out with Friends of the Opposite Sex

The fact that K-Pop stars can't date may seem strict, but that’s not where this situation ends. Frankly, K-Pop stars aren’t even supposed to associate with people who don’t share their gender. Former K-Pop artist and current YouTube personality Grazy Grace confirmed this by revealing that if she was "caught ... lounging around and talking to the opposite sex, like trainees and idols, [they] would always be separated." She even claimed that management companies would give them different schedules so that groups of guys and girls "would never run into each other or have any time to talk to each other."

While this might sound like another extreme precaution, it’s a rule that’s in place to appease fans who proved that they’re serious about this situation in 2008 during a performance by Girls' Generation. While the group was on stage at an annual show in Seoul, "the crowd created a 'black ocean,' refusing to wave lights and cellphones and staying silent throughout the band’s entire 10-minute performance, reportedly to protest how close the group had become to the members of boyband Super Junior," according to CNN.

Jenna Gibson, a Korea specialist at the University of Chicago, told CNN, "In a perverse way, because fans put in so much effort to promote and publicize a good image of their idol, some of them get the idea that they should have some say over the idol’s actions and personal life."

The Appearance of K-Pop Stars is Carefully Managed

K-Pop stars may embrace headline-making colorful hair and signature styles of stage-worthy clothing, but each look has to be approved — and is usually selected — by their management company. Changing things up without permission is not allowed and will result in repercussions.

Granted, for most people, what they do with their appearance is their own business but when it comes to K-Pop stars, their appearance is their management's business — literally. Bernie Cho, a Korean music industry executive, told CNN, "K-Pop music is a big business and K-Pop bands not only endorse big brands but also become big-time brands themselves. As a result, for better or for worse, individuals in such bands are viewed as investments." And just like any other big investment, it’s not wise to make drastic changes without serious consideration. That means if BTS' Jungkook dyes his hair, it’s a safe bet that his management knew about it well before his hairdresser whipped out the bleach.

If a K-Pop star did take their personal style into their own hands, it would mess up the carefully coordinated aesthetic of the typical K-Pop group, which depends on its adherence to the scene's preferences. Not to mention that an unapproved makeover could potentially upset fans who tend to analyze (and freak out over) every tiny change. This is definitely not a situation where you can express yourself without consequences coming at you from all sides.