(G)I-DLE’s Soyeon Criticized for Having “Celebrity Disease” by Korean Media?

Recently, Korean media outlet TenAsia published a scathing article accusing (G)I-DLE’s Soyeon of having the “celebrity disease” – a term coined when an artist’s talents are widely recognized but their actions lack consideration for others.

In particular, TenAsia wrote, “In the case of Jeon Soyeon, who is central to (G)I-DLE’s identity, her self-confidence seems to have gone too far, leading to an appearance of unilateral decision-making. At a recent solo performance during (G)I-DLE’s concert, she performed the song ‘Is this bad b**** number?’ During the performance, she used profanities and modified the lyrics to say, ‘11월 계약 종료. 누가 날 막아’, (“Contract ends in November. Who can stop me?”), which sparked controversy.”

This performance left fans anxious about the future of (G)I-DLE, who are in their seventh year, claimed TenAsia, adding that Cube Entertainment was thrown into chaos as the uncertain prospects of (G)I-DLE’s contract renewal were made public. 

“Although not explicitly stated, Soyeon’s altered lyrics hinted that she had no intention of renewing her contract with Cube”, it was stated.

Previously, A representative from Cube’s PR team responded to inquiries about (G)I-DLE’s contract renewal by stating, “All members are up for renewal next year, and Jeon Soyeon’s claim of contract renewal this fall was just part of her performance.” They also mentioned, “While we anticipated some surprise elements in Jeon Soyeon’s performance, we did not specifically know she would address contract expiration.”

In response, Jeon Soyeon defended herself on social media, stating, “This performance also contained no lies, nor did I hide anything from the company. We performed numerous rehearsals together, building the stage together.”

Despite the exchange of opinions between Cube and Jeon Soyeon, the latter’s solo performance is seen as lacking consideration for her agency, said TenAsia. 

According to the media outlet, his performance highlighted Cube’s lack of control over Soyeon – a challenge many management companies face. 

“Many stars try to escape the control of their agencies once they reach a certain level of fame. However, not all stars handle sensitive issues by explosively addressing them on stage like Soyeon did. Savvy artists engage in power struggles with their companies discreetly, behind the scenes, to get what they want without making it public”, the media wrote, adding, “While it’s undeniable that Soyeon plays a critical role in (G)I-DLE, industry insiders are not optimistic about her solo success without the group. For both (G)I-DLE’s longevity and Soyeon’s career, it is crucial for her to collaborate with the other members and the agency.”

They also criticized Soyeon’s action by saying, “With Soyeon’s contract ending in November and the rest of (G)I-DLE’s contracts expiring early next year, this is a crucial time for the future of the group. It’s time for Soyeon to be humble and think carefully. She needs to step out of the ‘celebrity disease’ and engage in proper communication with Cube for the future of (G)I-DLE.”

Source: TenAsia, Daum