Do Kpop trainees go into debt?

Aspiring K-pop idols, known as “trainees,” sign contracts with management agencies when the trainee is as young as 12 or 13 years old. Trainees under these three companies get paid as soon as they debut and generally do not face trainee debt at all, unless they leave before completion of their contracts.

How much is a Kpop trainee debt?

A trainee ends up with a debt of 600 million KRW (~518,037 USD) over eight years after being initially told he will debut right away. “The group will debut right away if you join”.

Do trainees have to pay for training in BigHit?

Yes, they pay for all your expenses as a trainee. If you are slightly older (17 or 18 ish) you may drop out of school and if you are younger you might go to a international/foreign language school or a school for performing arts (like many idols such as Jungkook and Jimin).

Do trainees pay if they don’t debut?

If they complete the contract and don’t debut, it’s waived. If they don’t complete a contract but debut through another agency, then also it’s waived for the trainee and the other agency bears the brunt. If they don’t complete a contract and don’t even debut, they have to pay a bit (not exactly 30 million won).

Do Kpop trainees pay for training?

You will not get paid to be a trainee. In fact, you will actually build up debt from housing, food, and training fees. This debt must be paid back once you debut (so you will not be able to keep any money until you have completely repaid your debt), or if/when you leave the company.

Do you have to speak Korean to audition for Bighit?

It is not a requirement to speak Korean. Remember, BlackPink’s Lisa didn’t speak Korean when she was a trainee. In fact, many K-pop entertainment companies allow all ethnicities and races to audition. This is because they want a representative from a particular country because that expands their audience base.