Girl Group Members Expose K-pop Industry: No Earnings in 7 Years, Neglected by Agency
On January 19, ENA’s survival show for cover influencers, “Undercover”, aired its 2nd episode. Here, the heartbreaking stories of former girl groups members were revealed.
In particular, Seoryoung, a former member of the disbanded girl group GWSN, recalled her horrific experience before taking the stage.
“I debuted in 2018, but due to the agency’s poor management, we were essentially neglected, leading to our disbandment,” she said, bringing viewers to tears.
Hearing this, former IZ*ONE member Kwon Eunbi, who also experienced the disbandment of her own group, empathized with Seoryoung, saying, “I know exactly how this feels.”
Another performance followed, featuring Yechan, who debuted twice with Awe5ome Baby in 2015 and Pink Fantasy in 2018. Kwon Eunbi, who was active during the same period, revealed that she was familiar with both groups.
In her segment, Yechan revealed the harsh reality of earning zero income over seven years of activity. To make ends meet, she worked various jobs, including at delivery services and factories, and currently balances her music career with a part-time job at a barbeque restaurant.
Later on, Yechan moved Kwon Eunbi as well as her competitors to tears with her soulful take on HYNN’s “The Lonely Bloom Stands Alone”.
On the other hand, ENA’s “Undercover” is a survival music variety show that pits top cover influencers against each other, reinterpreting original songs to create new music trends. Since its premiere on January 12, the show has climbed into the “Top 10” on major OTT platforms.
