Boo Seungkwan, of the Korean boy band SEVENTEEN, broke his silence on the toxic and impossible standards that idols have to face amidst all the glitz and glamour that comes with being a celebrity.
On Tuesday, October 29, Seungkwan personally addressed the outlook on idols in an Instagram statement. The 26-year-old singer decided to discuss the matter through a public post as a cry to shift the public image of idols.
Seungkwan, who’s known as the “K-Pop Professor” by K-pop fans and CARATS (SEVENTEEN fans) alike, began his lengthy post with: “I don’t want to see people hurting each other anymore.”
According to the singer, he had already kept his feelings in check and hoped that it would all pass. However, seeing how the situation had blown up, staying silent was no longer an option.
Breaking the Silence
“I feel that I can no longer stay silent for all my colleagues who are working hard even at this moment, my fans, my members, my people who are getting hurt,” the K-pop idol wrote, which was translated into English by Soompi, a K-pop news site.
Although it might seem like he’s meddling, Seungkwan said that he is mustering up all the courage to speak up.
“Being a celebrity is a job I chose, and while there are parts I must endure because I receive a lot of love, I don’t think it is a job where we have to endure to the point of self-destruction, getting hurt until the brink of death,” he stressed.
“I just wanted to do my best and show responsibility for the given tasks, to repay the fans who love me, and to share the good energy I can give in various ways. So it is true that the burden, the pressure, and the physical and mental fatigue are indescribably immense,” he added.
Due to the nature of their work, idols often go through strenuous activities and training. But despite all that, Seungkwan noted that they must endure it all. However, this controversy felt different, adding that it was “particularly harsh and cruel.”
“But today, that is not easy, and I feel sorry for those who are getting hurt at this moment. It also upsets me that I can’t embrace them all,” he wrote.
Hoping it Reaches Someone
Despite all that was uncovered, Seungkwan wondered if his words would resonate or even give hope to someone—including his colleagues, friends, and those who are working hard in the industry. The idol stressed that they are humans who get hurt too, especially knowing that they love their jobs.
“What I want to convey clearly is that we are not people who have been working so easily and smoothly that we can be judged lightly. We have experienced enough pain, fallen apart, and somehow overcome it, putting in tenacious effort to show our best on stage for our fans. I hope people don’t take idols lightly,” he stressed.
“You don’t have the right to easily intrude on our narrative. Not just us, but other artists as well, we are not your items. I hope you don’t think you can use and enjoy us as you please,”
He added that all their physical energy gets drained too, even from just a week of promotions. They juggle everything, from music promotions, advertisements, events, and other scheduled activities all at the same time. Seungkwan said that the least he could do for everyone was greet them with a cheerful smile. He stated that even a simple act of kindness gives him strength and that he hopes everyone can work without getting hurt.
“I really don’t want to see anyone breaking down and eventually giving up. I sincerely hope we stop giving wounds we can’t take responsibility for. I don’t want to see my members, all my colleagues who are working hard right now, the staff who have sincerely worked for us, and our fans getting hurt anymore,” the idol said.
“To the fans who are loving us warmly even at this moment, I want to say I’m sorry and I love you,” he ended.
View this post on Instagram
Along with the heartfelt message, Seungkwan included photos of him performing on stage, along with NMIXX Haewon’s letter addressed to him.
HYBE has been in the trenches of controversy for months now, with the latest twist of events leading up to the discovery of the “Weekly Music Industry Report” containing negative comments directed at idol groups and members from several agencies.
Korean lawmakers cited that the evaluations contained negative and derogatory expressions towards idols, showcasing an inhumane perspective.
