Educating Korea’s stars
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A few years ago K-pop’s rigorous training only focused on singing and dancing. Now international politics are being added to the mix
K-Pop production companies are notorious for the rigorous training of their entertainers who undergo years of dance and vocal training before they enter the competitive market.
When singers started appearing on TV dramas and films, acting classes also became essential. And when the K-pop wave went global, foreign language classes were added into the already harsh training regimes.
Now, in an age when K-pop stars’ every word and action are prone to scrutiny worldwide, agencies have started to focus on “character education”, which involves giving the singers comprehensive education in subjects ranging from basic etiquette to history and international politics.
DSP Entertainment, which manages girls groups Kara and Rainbow, conducts internal education on what it calls “character development and basic etiquette”.
“We teach our trainees how to greet people properly and how to address audiences and behave on TV shows,” an official from the company told the Korea Herald.
At Starship Entertainment, home to K-pop groups Sistar and Monsta X, trainees are taught how to speak politely and eloquently.
“Our trainees have to follow rules like not swearing, not slurring speech and greeting people with loud, clear voices,” an official explains.
“Before each team debuts, we offer specialised courses on giving interviews, which includes speaking coherently and responding to unexpected questions.”
The agency also tends to their entertainers’ mental wellbeing and offers regular counselling.
JYP Entertainment, the K-pop powerhouse that represents groups like Twice, 2PM and Wonder Girls, has strict policies concerning schoolwork and “moral character”.
“Our head producer Park Jin-young really values school and good morals,” says an official there. “Our trainees are not allowed to miss school unless absolutely necessary,” he explains, though most other companies tend to prioritise training over school attendance.
In areas that require more expertise, agencies invite university professors to give lectures or require entertainers to attend classes at the Korea Creative Content Agency’s Popular Culture and Arts Centre, which began offering a “character education” programme for K-pop singers and actors last year.
The programme includes classes on historical issues and cultural sensitivities, which are becoming increasingly important for K-pop celebrities to understand, according to the centre’s director Jung Tae-sung.
“In Islamic countries, for example, it’s taboo to hug fans or come into physical contact with them,” Jung says. “K-pop stars are branching out into more countries than ever now. They’re representing Korea abroad, which is why we felt it was necessary to offer a proper educational programme.”
For the Korean audience, history is a particularly delicate subject. Just last week, members Sulhyun and Jimin of girl group AOA drew flak when they were unable to identify a picture of An Jung-geun, a famous Korean independence activist.
