They were drawn to Korea with dreams of K-pop stardom - but then let down

A young woman from Japan, Miyu, traveled to South Korea in 2024 with dreams of becoming a K-pop star. She enrolled in a six-month programme at a K-pop training academy in Seoul, paying $19,800 for professional dance and vocal lessons and the opportunity to audition for major music agencies. However, Miyu alleged that she received few lessons, was sexually harassed by a senior staff member, and did not participate in scheduled auditions. Two other trainees from the same academy corroborated her claims, with one also alleging sexual harassment. The training academy denied all allegations, stating that nearly 200 foreign trainees had participated in its programmes since it opened in the late 2010s. K-pop training institutes are often classified as entertainment agencies, which are not subject to regulation or inspection by South Korea's education department.

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