"K-POP System,
Hoping to Protect Idols and Trainees"
KG, the American member of VCHA, a global girl group under JYP Entertainment, has declared her departure from the team, claiming she was subjected to abuse.
On the 8th, KG stated on her SNS, "After experiencing abuse from certain staff members, I have decided to terminate my contract with JYP Entertainment and leave VCHA. I filed a lawsuit yesterday."
JYP Entertainment's global girl group VCHA's American member K, G has declared her withdrawal from the team, claiming that she experienced abuse from a company employee. K, G Instagram
VCHA is a Korea-US joint girl group formed through the global project ‘A2K,’ a collaboration between JYP and Republic Records, a label under Universal Music Group, and debuted last January.
KG claimed that the working and living environment of the team negatively affected her mental health. She explained that she decided to leave the team in May of this year and is currently waiting for the contract termination process.
JYP Entertainment's global girl group VCHA member Cage, who is American, declared her withdrawal from the team, claiming she experienced abuse from a company employee. Cage Instagram
She wrote, "I do not support a working and living environment that drove a member to attempt suicide, nor an environment that causes eating disorders and self-harm among members."
The training process for K-pop groups is known to be intense. Privacy control is inevitable during this process. Because of this, there have been many analyses suggesting that it is difficult to apply the K-pop system in Western countries, where privacy is highly valued.
Referring to this, KG pointed out, "Despite the intense workload and extreme restrictions on privacy, I received almost no salary and accumulated massive debt. I do not intend to blame anyone for how I was treated, but I believe this is a deeply rooted problem in the K-pop industry."
Expressing gratitude to producer Park Jin-young and the company’s executives and staff, KG said, "There were beautiful moments as well," and added, "I hope that my departure will serve as a turning point for the K-pop system to change for the better and protect the remaining idols and trainees."
She continued, "I will continue to work on music in the future, but I do not want to do so in such an environment," emphasizing, "I hope that my decision to leave will bring about changes in the K-pop system that protect idols and trainees."
In response, JYP stated on the 8th, "We have not yet received the details directly, so we are confirming the situation," and added, "We have exchanged opinions through representatives regarding the matter, but there have been differences in views. We will proceed according to future procedures."
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