Article by Eunice Ian Pradas Graphics by Mekiah Gabrielle Cadiao
December 15, 2022
Idols inspire others; they cheer up our days with their music. Some days, they make us so happy that we want to dance. And sometimes, we shed tears because of the heartfelt moments we share with them. Overall, they help us get through the day. However, idols are humans too, and they also have their fair share of struggles.
One of their struggles is company mistreatment. While it is not present in every K-Pop group, it is a prevalent issue in the industry. It can range from overworking their idols until they get sick; or purposely giving them less exposure compared to other members in group activities. One of the most notorious agencies for poor management is BlockBerry Creative (BBC), home to our favorite cosmic 12-member K-Pop girl group, LOONA.
The members of LOONA have stated on multiple occasions that they are not receiving any pay for their idol work. Not everyone can put up a fight against this problem out of fear, but Chuu from LOONA (birth name: Kim Jiwoo) did not back down. In December 2021, Kim filed a lawsuit against BBC to terminate her contract. She partially won the case, allowing her to stay with another company while working under BBC.
However, the mistreatment does not end there. BBC excluded Kim from major group activities such as their first world tour and their first Japanese single, LUMINOUS. The only explanation for her absence was her solo activities, for which she also receives no payment. What could be more important than her group’s big events? Furthermore, on November 25th, BBC suddenly announced the expulsion of Kim from the group. Based on an article from Rappler, BBC wrote, “However, recently there have been reports of abuse of power, including verbal abuse, by CHUU towards company staff."
This kind of statement would usually garner backlash towards the idol, but no one believes in the agency's words because of its reputation as a company with poor management. Additionally, even different people who have worked with Kim have vocally expressed their support for the idol. Despite all the backlash from fans of LOONA demanding an explanation, the agency released another statement saying that the proof would have to come from the artist herself.
The other members of LOONA were also clearly against the removal of Kim from the group. Another member, Kim Hyunjin, has openly voiced her hurt at the sudden departure of Chuu. On November 28th, there were reports that nine out of the remaining eleven members were filing an injunction to terminate their contract with BCC. While there are currently no updates yet; we will find out in the future.
The bond the twelve members of LOONA share with one another is so strong, to the point that they even got non-fans rooting for them. Idols were always there for us; now’s our turn to offer support for them this time. We wish the girls of LOONA the best in their endeavors and that they finally get the proper treatment they deserve.
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