An article by YTN recently put a spotlight on the mental health of entertainment company employees

The growth of K-pop as a major industry cannot be discussed without acknowledging the immense influence of its fandom. These fans do more than just support their favorite artists. They create secondary content, organize large-scale projects and events, and even make charitable donations in their fandom’s name. Their active participation has helped shape and drive the K-pop market forward.

However, as the fandom’s influence expands, so do its darker aspects. The stronger the light, the darker the shadow. Some toxic fan behaviors have escalated beyond enthusiastic support, crossing into cyber harassment, privacy violations, and even personal attacks on both artists and entertainment company employees.

While K-pop idols and entertainment company employees often face similar types of harassment, the response to their suffering is vastly different. When an idol becomes the target of malicious comments or false rumors, agencies typically act swiftly to protect them. However, when company staff face similar harassment, their struggles are often ignored. Many employees have no choice but to endure the abuse as a "painful rite of passage."

There have been many instances in which entertainment company employees faced severe cyber harassment. In one case, a staff member at an entertainment company was woken up late at night by a phone call from an anonymous number. On the other end, a furious fan hurled insults and demanded that their favorite idol’s hairstyle and styling be changed.

In another instance, a manager of a popular idol group discovered that fans had flooded his personal social media account with hateful comments. Some even followed his friends on Instagram, commenting on their posts in an attempt to monitor his activities.

In a third case, a public relations staff member at a mid-sized agency faced extreme protests from fans, including truck demonstrations and funeral wreath deliveries to the company’s office, causing distress and anxiety.

Not only that, these fans are unrestrained in their scrutiny of the work done by these staff members. A video production staff member at an agency expressed frustration over the flood of negative comments on their work. Fans accused them of using subtitles and background music that did not fit the idol’s concept. The staff member said, “We try to consider fans’ opinions, but it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. Excessive criticism is really discouraging."

In another case, these toxic fans have made incessant phone calls to the agency with relentless speculations over an idol. After an agency confirmed an idol’s dating rumors, a company employee was bombarded with complaints from fans. The employee explained, “This decision was made by considering both the company’s stance and the artist’s wishes,” but the relentless speculation and protest calls have made work unbearable.

Other cases include fan managers being unfairly accused of favoritism for simply interacting with fans at public events. In some extreme cases, staff members have received mass emails urging them to resign or even threats made against their family members.

Despite these unreasonable and outrageous actions, there have not been sufficient protection measures established for company employees. 

An entertainment industry insider revealed, “Major agencies have dedicated teams to handle fan complaints, but mid-sized and smaller companies often deal with the fans directly. Some even suffer from doxxing with their personal phone numbers and private information being leaked online.”

Despite these ongoing issues, some smaller agencies hesitate to take legal action against fans. Since fan engagement is essential for their business, companies fear backlash or damage to their public image. Attorney Seon Jong Mun explained, “Some entertainment company CEOs offer legal assistance when employees are targeted, but these cases are very rare. In most situations, the affected individuals have to take matters into their own hands.”

Mental health support for employees dealing with harassment is also lacking in the entertainment industry. A music industry official recalled an incident where an employee, overwhelmed by fan pressure, was simply told, “If you need counseling, we’ll arrange it,” but no structured system for emotional support existed. “Most entertainment agencies in Korea do not have proper support in place,” they added.

Despite K-pop’s global success and growth, the treatment of agency staff members remains poor. While improving legal support and mental health care for employees is necessary, fans must also reflect on whether their so-called “justified criticism” is truly fair and constructive.

Just as these favorite artists are precious to fans, agency staff are also someone’s loved ones. Obsessive and blind devotion to idols can quickly turn into toxic behavior, ultimately leading to a backlash against fans themselves. As K-pop continues to rise as a global cultural force, a mature and respectful fandom culture is more necessary than ever. It is time for fans to embrace rational and constructive support rather than a blind obsession. This is the proper way to show love for artists.

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