"Member Conflicts and Depression Experienced"… CNN Documentary Highlights 'K-pop Idols'

The Apple TV+ documentary series "Welcome to K-Pop: Idol Stories," which highlights the bright and dark sides of the explosively growing K-pop industry over the past decade, was released on the 30th.

'K-Pop Idols' official trailer Apple TV+ YouTube screen capture. [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to CNN, "Welcome to K-Pop: Idol Stories" depicts K-pop idols struggling fiercely to succeed amid intense competition.

It tells the stories of idols in different situations, such as rapper Jessi who leaves her agency to forge a new path, the girl group Blackswan whose members are all foreigners, and the boy group Cravity who debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through this, it sheds light on the effort required to become a K-pop star and the price that comes with it.

In the case of Blackswan members, they underwent rigorous training to learn Korean, rap, and dance. Conflicts among members also arose. One member who experienced depression openly discussed the stigma associated with mental health, CNN reported.

CNN pointed out that K-pop idols, who start training from their teenage years, face severe pressure due to strict management, which is linked to mental health crises.

The documentary also covers the physical image standards that all K-pop idols must follow and the "extreme measures" required to achieve them.

Idols talk about how little they eat and how much training they must endure.

One member of Cravity said that when he first auditioned for the agency, he was instructed to lose weight and lost nearly 7 kg by eating only one egg a day for two weeks.

The documentary does not only show the dark side. CNN also reported that it captures friendships among group members, passionate performances, and fans' cheers.