[ NB ] Jay Park talks about the cultrual shock of life as an idol.

[johnnyrose]

 

Seoul Newspaper En] singer Park Jae - beom interviewed CNN. On the 9th, CNN USA recently released an interview with Park Jae - beom, who signed a contract with Rock Nation for the first time as a musician from Asia. Lak Nation is a label founded by Jay Ji, who manages pop stars such as Liana, DJ Khalid, Shakira, Jay Cole, and Vixen. 

When Park Jae-bum was a 2PM member in Korea, he said, "I could not express myself much in the group system belonging to the company." "I finally got the freedom to do what I want to do." 

"Their way was culture shock," he said. It was a hobby and a pleasure for me, where I had to practice from 10 am to 10 pm ". 

At the time, Park Jae-bum was forced to return to the US after being criticized for revealing the fact that he posted an article about the difficulties of living in Korea with rough English expression used in SNS. 

After that, I got a chance to play again on stage again, featuring Nothin 'On You, a song by rapper Bob Obi of Park Jae - Bum. 

 

AP Photo

 

Article: Jay Park says in CNN interview, "Life as a Korean idol was culture shock for me"
 

Source: Seoul News via Nate

1. [+790, -129] Foreigners are actually horrified at how hard Koreans work. They say that Koreans are like robots, just working without emotion... The working conditions were hard for even a male artist like him who's been known to have good character so you can tell what it's like... I completely understand how he must've felt. It doesn't matter how much you love singing and dancing when you're forced to do it for 10 hours a day. No one can live like that. And I'm sure he felt a lot of resentment over the fact that he had no creative control over his own music.

2. [+580, -41] It's a system that can't be helped for agencies to better manage their products. Any fault in the product and it results in catastrophic losses.

3. [+67, -3] But if you're able to withstand the hard work and make it... the money you'll end up making is astronomical. It's basically up to the person and how much they want it. No one's forcing them to live the life style.

4. [+64, -7] I don't know why he's promoting in Korea then. Isn't he staying in Korea because he knows he doesn't have the skills to make it in America? Ok Taecyeon was under the same conditions as him and he was just fine. Don't blame Korea for this... go make money in your own country if you're going to do that.

5. [+63, -3] Should've quit when you were a trainee then, but no, you debuted and earned all that you wanted and now you're whining about it?

6. [+54, -3] It's just a difference in standards and cultures. There are pros and cons to every culture. One of the biggest reasons K-Pop is earning popularity worldwide is the strict training that goes on behind it. Look at BTS... they captivate with their crazy hard dance moves. You think that comes easily? You have to prove yourself with your skills in this industry. I understand what Jay Park is saying but I don't think it's anything to blame or fault Korea with either. If you don't like the system, then don't be a part of it. Every country has the woes of a trainee. We should be working to developing a better system and working to incorporate the better parts of Western entertainment culture into ours too.

7. [+50, -31] I don't think he's putting the Korean system down but rather sharing his honest experience. I'm sure he wanted to pursue music of his own while as an idol but was put under restrictions.

8. [+49, -5] Why didn't you leave then? Why keep your mouth shut then?

-

 

. x .

[Feraligatr]

I would be hated if I was an idol in Korea 

[ros]

"If you don't like the system, then don't be a part of it"

 

I actually don't agree with this sentiment. We're not sheep who should just mindlessly agree with the way things are.. If change is warranted, people should seek for it

[Honeystan]

3. [+67, -3] But if you're able to withstand the hard work and make it... the money you'll end up making is astronomical. It's basically up to the person and how much they want it. No one's forcing them to live the life style.

 

 

Sometimes none of that matters when you can't do even 10% of what you want to express yourself. 

4. [+64, -7] I don't know why he's promoting in Korea then. Isn't he staying in Korea because he knows he doesn't have the skills to make it in America? Ok Taecyeon was under the same conditions as him and he was just fine. Don't blame Korea for this... go make money in your own country if you're going to do that.

 

Not everyone is the same, and it's not just about skills in America either. Asian's have it hard trying to make anything happen here, especially music. They're just not taken seriously. Ailee sings amazingly, but she wouldn't have a leg to stand on in America

[denizen mars]

"If you don't like the system, then don't be a part of it"

 

I actually don't agree with this sentiment. We're not sheep who should just mindlessly agree with the way things are.. If change is warranted, people should seek for it

 

could apply more broadly to society, too. people always say about my country, 'love it or leave it'. but if everyone who hates it leaves, who will be left to change things for the better?

 

that said, if being an idol (or just whatever) is negatively impacting your mental or physical health to a degree it makes you not want to continue, and you can afford to break your contract, you absolutely should save yourself and leave

[Soilei]

could apply more broadly to society, too. people always say about my country, 'love it or leave it'. but if everyone who hates it leaves, who will be left to change things for the better?

 

that said, if being an idol (or just whatever) is negatively impacting your mental or physical health to a degree it makes you not want to continue, and you can afford to break your contract, you absolutely should save yourself and leave

 

llol was about to comment this about my country.

 

but i kinda understand why people are saying this. when your countrys corruption is deeply rooted and spreaded , and those in charge literally are intouchable, even if you try doing something- you can't or they literally eat you alive. and unfortunately. majority of people would rather run away or turn a blind eye instead of trying to change it together. so yeah. it kinda sucks alltogether.

[xxo]

"If you don't like the system, then don't be a part of it"

 

I actually don't agree with this sentiment. We're not sheep who should just mindlessly agree with the way things are.. If change is warranted, people should seek for it

 

Agreed. Change is inevitable anyways and there's always room for improvement 

[1Q98]

lol it just depends on the way you trying to express yourself. if you curse at korea, what do you expect the company will do? if he's from SM, he would be non-existent in korea alrd and become instagram model instead.

[Gaudy]

3. [+67, -3] But if you're able to withstand the hard work and make it... the money you'll end up making is astronomical. It's basically up to the person and how much they want it. No one's forcing them to live the life style.

 

Barely. Netizens need to wake up and realize that the majority of stars who break away from the company get paid more regardless. Companies pay for your expenses so it isn’t in the slightest surprise these stars could be working from 10 am to 10 pm and only make a few thousands if that.

[Byakugan]

2. [+580, -41] It's a system that can't be helped for agencies to better manage their products. Any fault in the product and it results in catastrophic losses.

 

This. I understand both sides tbvh, unfortunately the side on top is the company thats why they are able to take control of everything until the artist is successful enough the companies cant ignore their voice anymore.

[Mephistopheles]

theyd have more of a point if these kids who train for years and years had developed actual skills but nope....... mostly theyre just being exploited for their looks/star power for a few years. and each group only has a couple of actually somewhat trained members. 

[Jay Park]

He literally just said it was a culture shock, nothing else lol. Oh well 

[sammydee]

I can understand tho he's from America, celebs openly tweet about anything even the President but you rarely see any k-celebs having an open beef on sns otherwise they will be crucified

[RiseLikeACrowTit]

I would quit after a year and make a big dramatic scandal about it

[rananicolee]

He said it was a culture shock because...he's from America. He wasn't used to the training. In fact, his mom was the one who made him audition.

[sakurahanabira]

8. [+49, -5] Why didn't you leave then? Why keep your mouth shut then?

 

lol either you're really young or you've been living under a rock because he did end up leaving.

[PeachyKeys!]

Yeeeeeeeeah the idol life isn't exactly a liberating one. Did y'all see EXO's JYP interview when the idea of girlfriends and future wives/kids came up? Fans are trying to kill idols from the inside-out, bruh.

[leucem]

is a cultural thing, it seems. koreans (asians in general, maybe?) have this "greater good/group mentlity" unlike westerns/americans who are more into individuality and self expression. both systems have their pro and cons.

[#!nasigoreng]

lol it just depends on the way you trying to express yourself. if you curse at korea, what do you expect the company will do? if he's from SM, he would be non-existent in korea alrd and become instagram model instead.

^

:harr: savage

[#!nasigoreng]

deleted

[HotTea]

Some of these comments are dumb as fuck.

[International-Cockroach]

Some of these comments are fucking stupid.

 

Want to know the issue with the idol training system? 

 

First off, idols are trained for so long and yet their skills are often not up to par. Some idols have been training for well over five years, yet are average to proficient vocalists at best. We hear about how long they've trained, yet we have no knowledge of the quality of said "training." Training from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM isn't shit if you're hardly being taught anything of substantial worth. I don't give a shit if this hurts your feelings, a huge chunk of idols by all means are not technically-sound vocalists. How is it that there are an incredible amount of talented vocalists and singers in the west who didn't have to endure five years of ridiculous training? These idols, THESE KIDS, shouldn't be enduring that level of extreme training. They should have time to themselves and reasonable hours. Overwork does NOT equal a better product. 

 

Secondly, idols aren't paid what they should be paid. Overworking is such a huge issue in Korea. People are expected to work long, arduous hours and give an incredible amount of effort without pay. Idols are no different. These kids are being exploited and treated unfairly WHILE being scammed out of a livable wage. 

 

This is such a huge issue and yet nobody cares under the guise of "it made my faves the way they are, so stfu!" It's so toxic to expect people to preserve the concept of "shut up and take it or leave!"

 

 

These kids/adults are viewed as expendable products, who they can emotionally abuse and manipulate through long hours of "training" into being subservient. Some companies are better than others, but still. For years idols deal with this until they hit their late twenties, their star power is diminished, and they're then quietly snuffed out in favor of the newer, shinier idols. 

 

Shame. I'm sure Jay Park has a lot more to say but is holding his tongue.