“Flop” Former K-Pop Idol Group Members Reveal New Career Paths
A new interview by The Fact is gaining attention for highlighting a rarely discussed side of the K-Pop industry, what happens to the hundreds of trainees and idols who don’t make it. Former idols who have carved out new paths for themselves spoke to the tabloid.
According to the report, around 40 K-Pop groups debut every year, meaning roughly 200 new idols enter the industry annually. Yet only a handful achieve long-term success, while countless others quietly leave the entertainment world behind.
Former idols and trainees interviewed for the piece shared a common concern, that many spend their teenage years training instead of building normal academic, social, and career experiences, leaving them unprepared for life outside entertainment. Former Golden Child member Kim Ji Beom, who now operates an indoor shooting range in Busan, revealed that he had to learn the ropes of business after quitting the industry.
“When I was an idol, I knew nothing about things like business operations, accounting, taxes, or government support programs.”
Former trainee Byun Chae Won, who spent nine years training at various agencies before opening a successful café and bar in Seoul, shared a similar experience. She revealed that she only discovered a government startup loan program by chance while working part-time at a PC café. She ultimately used a youth entrepreneurship loan to start her business, which now reportedly generates hundreds of millions of won annually.
“I didn’t even know these programs existed. There are so many support systems available, but nobody tells trainees about them.”
The report also highlighted concerns that former trainees, particularly women, can become vulnerable to exploitative offers due to a lack of information and support networks after leaving the industry.
Former SMASH member Joo Young Seok, who later became a pastry chef, claimed that agencies need to prepare trainees for life beyond the industry.
“Not every K-pop group can succeed. Agencies need to start helping young people prepare for life beyond the stage.”
The report has sparked discussion online, with many netizens expressing sympathy for former idols who sacrificed their youth chasing a dream only to find themselves navigating adulthood without the resources most young people take for granted. Many agreed that while success stories often dominate headlines, there are countless former trainees and idols quietly building second careers away from the spotlight.
