'BTS and BLACKPINK are treated like slaves', North Korea's claims spark debate | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025
'BTS and BLACKPINK are treated like slaves', North Korea's claims spark debate

Splash

Hindustan Times
11 February, 2024, 10:55 am
Last modified: 11 February, 2024, 12:10 pm

Related News

  • South Korean military suspends loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea
  • BTS members Jimin and Jungkook discharged from South Korea military
  • K-pop megastars RM, V released from army, promise BTS reunion
  • South Korea President Lee's election law violation hearing postponed indefinitely: court
  • Rizwana calls for global unity for sustainable plastic use and zero-carbon future

'BTS and BLACKPINK are treated like slaves', North Korea's claims spark debate

North Korean report resurfaces, criticizing treatment of South Korean idol groups BTS and BLACKPINK

Hindustan Times
11 February, 2024, 10:55 am
Last modified: 11 February, 2024, 12:10 pm
Photo: Hindustan Times
Photo: Hindustan Times

As South Korea celebrated the Lunar New Year, known as Seollal, an older report from a North Korean media outlet resurfaced on 10 February, sparking a frenzy on social media.

The report, originally published in 2021, criticized the treatment of South Korean idol groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK openly. These reports garnered significant attention from Korean netizens, as they detailed the alleged harsh conditions imposed by major South Korean entertainment companies.

"They are criticised for being treated like slaves, with their bodies, minds, and souls taken away by the vicious and corrupt presidents of these major entertainment corporations." A paragraph from the 2021 report which resurfaced on The Qooforum read.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Likening the treatment of idols to "slavery," the report highlights how entertainment executives exert immense control over these young performers.

Gaining traction after a popular online forum post, the report has garnered attention beyond Korea.

The report emphasizes that idols are bound by exclusive contracts from a young age, leading to their isolation from the broader world. It also added western media's approach and said they too have highlighted the injustices faced by these idols.

"Not only South Korean media but also Western media have reported that South Korea's young singers are tied to unbelievably unfair contracts from a young age, spending their lives confined to training camps."

Mentioning the global K-pop phenomenon like BTS and BLACKPINK in their report, they said, "Many teenage singers, including BTS and BLACKPINK, are being trained to become pop singers at a young age from elementary and middle school by signing exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment and other big corporates."

With the global ascent of the K-pop industry, it's clear that the report has stirred considerable dismay.

Fans and observers argue that considering the achievements of BTS and BLACKPINK, who have opened doors for other K-pop acts to thrive on Western front, such grueling practices seem out of place.

According to the article, idols and trainees are subjected to severe training schedules that include cutting down on their sleep duration to two to three hours each night, isolating them from the outside world, and withdrawing a sizeable amount of their salary to meet training costs.

Netizens react

To many, these sensational claims hold little weight as they are seen as mere attempts to criticize South Korea's flourishing idol culture and popularity, often dismissed as 'propaganda' pieces.

A user wrote, "Yeah maybe the kpop system is kinda broken, but I think NK isn't allowed to comment on that. Their system is more slavery than the kpop industry ever could.", others joined in, "No one cares what they say anws", "So BTS and Blackpink have a nation-level hater", "What kind of slave earns hundreds and billions of dollars?", "Well, if they are the slaves, I want to be a slave too lmao", "BTS and BLACKPINK must be also well known in North Korea lol."

 

 

 

BTS / Blackpink / south korea / K-Pop

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    UK crime agency now freezes assets of ex-land minister Saifuzzaman: AJ
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus speaks at the Chatham House in London on 11 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    No desire to be part of next elected govt: CA Yunus
  • File photo of BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    Khasru flies to London ahead of Yunus-Tarique meeting

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • File photo of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Photo: Collected
    Joy spends Eid with Hasina in India: Indian media
  • Mercantile Bank withholds dividend amid Tk1,700cr provision shortfall
    Mercantile Bank withholds dividend amid Tk1,700cr provision shortfall
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook

Related News

  • South Korean military suspends loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea
  • BTS members Jimin and Jungkook discharged from South Korea military
  • K-pop megastars RM, V released from army, promise BTS reunion
  • South Korea President Lee's election law violation hearing postponed indefinitely: court
  • Rizwana calls for global unity for sustainable plastic use and zero-carbon future

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

9h | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

1d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

2d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

4d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

5h | TBS Stories
What did Dr. Yunus say at the Chatham House Dialogue in London?

What did Dr. Yunus say at the Chatham House Dialogue in London?

6h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 11 JUNE 2025

News of The Day, 11 JUNE 2025

7h | TBS News of the day
WB predicts worst decade for global growth since 60s

WB predicts worst decade for global growth since 60s

9h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net