Think being K-pop idol's easy? You should watch this series
What's the story
K-Pop Idols, a new docuseries on Apple TV+, offers viewers an inside look into the lives and challenges of K-pop stars.
The series follows Korean American rapper Jessi, girl group Blackswan, and boy band Cravity as they navigate the demanding South Korean music industry.
The show provides a glimpse into the intense training, emotional highs and lows, and personal sacrifices required to succeed in this competitive field.
Artist profiles
'K-Pop Idols' explores artists' personal and professional journeys
K-Pop Idols features Jessi, a seasoned artist who left Psy's record label to chart her own course, and Blackswan, a girl group striving for international recognition while dealing with internal conflicts.
The series also follows Cravity, a nine-member boy band that debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now trying to establish itself in the crowded K-pop scene.
Mental health
The series highlights the mental health crisis in K-pop
The docuseries addresses the immense pressure K-pop idols face from their management, a factor that has been linked to a mental health crisis in the industry.
The series explores this issue through Blackswan member Leia's struggle with depression and the stigma associated with discussing mental health in Korea.
Leia's conflict with fellow group member Fatou also forms a significant part of the storyline.
International expansion
'K-Pop Idols' delves into the industry's quest for global appeal
The docuseries also highlights the K-pop industry's efforts to broaden its global appeal by recruiting foreign talent.
Blackswan, which started as a Korean-only band, now consists exclusively of overseas-born members.
The series documents the rigorous six-month training these artists undergo in Korean language, rap, and dance.
The show also touches on the challenges faced by labels when recruiting foreign K-pop stars.
Body image
The series addresses body image standards in K-pop
K-Pop Idols also discusses the stringent body image standards that K-pop idols must adhere to.
The stars frequently talk about their restrictive diets and intense training regimes.
For instance, Cravity vocalist Wonjin reveals that he was instructed to lose weight for his Starship audition, leading him to eat only one egg a day for two weeks and lose 6.8kg.