Former K-Pop idol Hyogyeong has gone viral after sharing a brutally honest account of her experience in the entertainment industry, revealing the financial and emotional struggles she faced after debuting.
Hyogyeong, who debuted in 2019 as a member of the girl group ARIAZ, recently posted a video reflecting on her three years as an idol. In the clip, she compared the dreams many trainees have before debut with the reality they often encounter afterward.
“When you finally debut after five years of training, you think you might become like BLACKPINK. I thought that too,” she said. “But instead of becoming BLACKPINK, I almost ended up being blacklisted.”
The former idol then revealed that the financial situation was far from what many fans might imagine. According to Hyogyeong, her bank account balance wasn’t just empty—it was actually negative.
“After two and a half years of promotions, I finally received my first settlement statement. I was so excited because I thought I could finally send some money to my parents,” she explained. “But it turned out to be a notice about debt.”
Her story highlights a well-known but rarely discussed reality of the K-Pop industry. Many trainees accumulate costs for training, housing, styling, and promotions, which are later deducted from their earnings once they debut. If a group does not achieve significant commercial success, idols may struggle to pay off those expenses.
Hyogyeong also referenced the success story of BTS to illustrate how rare profitable idol careers can be.
“I heard that even BTS only started receiving profit distributions about three years after debut,” she said. “So I told myself: just survive for three years.”
However, when that third year finally arrived, things did not unfold the way she hoped.
“Instead of receiving a settlement, we got a notice that the group was disbanding. BTS became legends, and we became a side story.”
Hyogyeong officially left ARIAZ in 2022. Afterward, other members also gradually announced their departures, effectively marking the end of the group.
Her candid comments have resonated with many online, sparking renewed discussion about the pressures, financial risks, and uncertainty faced by lesser-known idols in the K-Pop industry. While fans often see the glamour of successful groups, Hyogyeong’s story offers a rare glimpse into the struggles behind the scenes.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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