Being a K-Pop Idol: What to Prepare For

The road to being a K-Pop Idol isn’t easy. It takes a lot of dedication and practice to get to where you want to be.

You’ve probably seen many videos of K-Pop idols whenever you eat in a Samgyupsal Grill. You’ve probably also heard your kids listening to it on their phone. Your kids will eventually start copying their moves, memorizing their lines, and maybe learning a bit of Korean too.

But it’s a natural thing. When children idolize people, they copy them. But it’s when they say, “Mommy/ Daddy, I want to be a K-Pop Idol!” That’s the part that can be anxiety-inducing. Why do they suddenly want to be an artist? What’s going on? Is that money actually worth it?

But don’t worry, mommy and daddy! We’ve compiled a basic list of what things you may need to look out for if your kids want to become a K-Pop idol.

Finding their niche: dancing or singing?

Does your kid like singing or dancing? K-Pop Idols usually specialize in both. But there will always be that one portion that sticks out more. Does your kid like dancing or singing? Do they prefer moving around or do they prefer belting?

K-Pop Idols usually become famous because of either or. Super Junior (also known as SuJu) became famous in 2005 because of their song “Sorry Sorry” which spread like wildfire on social media because of the signature dance move.

PSY, another K-Pop Idol, hit big because of his song Gangnam Style. People often saw his dance moves as humorous and amusing and the song had a catchy beat. Knowing that, you now have to figure out:

How much time are they willing to pour into learning how to dance like a K-Pop Idol?

K-Pop Idols do not become famous overnight. BTS even said that their choreographer, Son Sung Deuk, spent 10 days without sleep designing the dance for the song DNA. That’s just designing. The training could span several hours with only possibly small or no breaks in between.

For kids, the training starts simple first. They start by enhancing their dance vocabulary. Usually, there are summer camps that teach but being a professional is a different story. There’s also making room for their costumes, event logistics, and etc. without compromising schoolwork.

While learning how to dance, they also have to learn…

Learning how to speak Korean

While K-Pop Idols are required to learn English, if you’re Filipino, it’s the other way around. Your kids will have to learn Korean. While there are some universities here in the Philippines that offer Korean, the Korean embassy may also endorse a few places that can teach business-level Korean.

Unlike some places, Korea needs a working visa. They’re quite strict with the functions of the visa that if your child is there as a student, that’s all they can do: study. If your child is a minor, you might have to provide extra papers and the sort especially if they’re going into entertainment.

Finding a good agency

Some familiar names that might come out include SM, the agency responsible for Super Junior, and HYBE – the agency responsible for BTS. An agency is responsible for handling logistics, social media, communities, events, and etc. These are the guys behind the scenes to make sure things go well.

But make sure when they choose an agency, make sure it’s the agency that’s transparent and holds nothing but good interests for both parties.

Do they have the mental resilience?

The entertainment industry is hard. They will have to face many things. Every action will now be under a microscope. K-Pop idols are required to be constantly perfect hence the term “idol”. Some bands such as DAY6 have stopped promoting due to mental health reasons.

Though, eventually, the band does become another support system. But not everyone is lucky. Kim Jong-hyun, the main vocalist of Shinee, sadly succumbed with the official release that he had committed suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning.

Wanting to be a K-Pop Idol: Phase or not?

That’s the one thing about kids. You’re not entirely sure whether they really want to do it or they’re just amazed by it. Same goes for kids who want to be like Markiplier or Pewdiepie on Youtube. But it doesn’t mean that you should discourage your kids if they love singing and dancing. In some studies, they even show it improves brain development!

But choosing to become an artist for the sake of a career is where they’ll really have to ask themselves the question: is it worth it?

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