On May 17, Doi, who is now active as a YouTuber, shared a video discussing what she experienced before debuting as an idol. Her confession is now drawing attention for exposing the darker side of Korea’s trainee system.
Doi revealed that she spent around 9 to 10 years as a trainee and went through 4 to 5 different agencies during that time. One of the most painful things she remembered was being told that trainees were not treated like people. “At the time, the company told us, ‘You are not people, you are products,’” she said. She added that she was deeply hurt by the idea that trainees only had value if they could “sell well.”
Monthly Evaluations Felt Like “Hell”
According to her, monthly evaluations were not moments of encouragement or growth. Instead, they were harsh sessions where dozens of staff members watched and pointed out only the trainees’ weaknesses. “It was a place where only our flaws were criticized,” she recalled. She described the experience bluntly, saying, “Every day felt like hell.”
For many fans, her words were especially heartbreaking because they revealed how much young trainees may have to endure before even getting the chance to debut.
Extreme Weight Pressure Shocked Viewers
The most shocking part of Doi’s confession involved weight management. Doi, who is 170cm tall, claimed that her company pressured her to reduce her weight to 42kg. As debut approached, she said the pressure became even more extreme, with demands to drop below 40kg.
She revealed that the pressure pushed her body to a dangerous state, saying she once dropped to 38kg and suffered serious physical damage. Doi also shared that during that period, she developed harmful eating behaviors and even ended up being taken to the hospital after deliberately consuming spoiled food.
Her confession has sparked concern and anger among viewers, with many pointing out the need to improve the trainee system and protect young artists from extreme physical and mental pressure.
Verbal Abuse And Physical Punishment
Doi further claimed that verbal abuse and even physical punishment were part of her trainee experience. She said trainees could not cry even when they were struggling. After debuting, she also felt forced to hide her emotions because of her public image. “Even when it was hard, I couldn’t cry,” she said.
Her comments have led to renewed discussion about the emotional cost of idol training, especially for young performers who spend years preparing for a debut that may or may not happen.
Doi is currently active mainly in Taiwan. After her video was released, several Taiwanese media outlets reported on her story. The discussion has since expanded beyond Doi herself, with more attention being placed on structural issues in the K-pop trainee system and calls for better treatment of aspiring idols.
FANATICS debuted on August 6, 2019, as an 8-member multinational girl group under FENT. However, due to several difficulties, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the group effectively began moving toward disbandment around October 2022.
Sources: Daum | 마이데일리
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