A member from the girl group Ferry Blue has spoken up in an interview.

In an interview with Dong-A Ilbo, Jin Do Jin shared her story as a female idol who has been in the industry for thirteen years. 30-years-old in Korean age, Jin Do Jin considers herself to be on the older side as a girl group just starting out. Ferry Blue debuted in 2021 as a 6-member girl group and has released songs including "Call My Name" and "Game Over."

Jin Do Jin said that she first started out wanting to be a musical performer but changed routes to seek out more options. She revealed that most auditions for entertainment companies cut performers off before the 1-minute mark and that she herself has changed companies multiple times over the course of six years.

As a trainee, a typical day begins at 9 AM and ends at 10 PM, even when you are just a student. "There are no holidays," she shared. "I think I rested twice, once in the new year and second during Chuseok. There are also multiple CCTV cameras in the practice rooms, so they call you up when you're taking a long break in the bathroom."

She shockingly revealed that all her companies had cameras and that they were used to check if the trainees were "eating in secret or lying down to rest." Jin Do Jin shared that she couldn't even go to the neighborhood market and found herself dealing with migraines all day.

"I still understood the position of the companies, because no one knew when an investor would come in and see us. You always have to prepare a good merchandise to lead to a good sale," said Jin Do Jin.

When the interviewer expressed shock toward the way she called herself a 'merchandise,' the idol responded that that's how everyone is referred to as in the industry—"a merchandise that needs to be crafted well in order to be sold." 

"If you're stressed by these statements, even though it is wrong to compare humans to objects, then it's difficult to survive in this industry."

It was revealed that Jin Do Jin, as part of a girl group, has gone to every region in the country to perform for events, earning practically nothing. She added that it was a luxury to eat even a roll of kimbap inside the car. After laboring away for 2 years with no sleep, she said all she has significantly earned was a sum of 300,000 KRW (~231.52 USD), which she received from the company in the beginning "as an allowance."

She said she eventually had to invest her own money to a producer just starting out for her girl group and that her parents had to help her out. The interviewer wrote that Jin Do Jin broke down in tears after this statement and had to pause the conversation.

Although, according to her, Ferry Blue is "nowhere near famous" even after three years and that there was no income, Jin Do Jin said that she is still grateful to be part of the group.

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