Jessica Jung recently delved into her past as a trainee and a member of Girls’ Generation
Having marked her 16th debut anniversary in August, Jessica made a highly anticipated return with her fourth mini-album, “BEEP BEEP.”
In celebration of her comeback, Jessica joined the podcast to offer fans an insider’s perspective as a former K-pop idol.
One particularly interesting aspect Jessica discussed was the stance of SM Entertainment staff on idols dating, as some companies even prohibit their idols from being in a romantic relationship during the first few years of their debut.
Jessica, being Korean American, acknowledged the contrasting perspectives on whether idols should face dating restrictions. Drawing from her personal experience, she emphasized that SM Entertainment employees and managers allowed idols to be transparent about various aspects of her life, including dating.
She disclosed that she would openly converse with staff members about relationships, finding that this openness fostered a more accepting attitude within SM.
Contrastingly, Jessica observed that idols concealing relationships or causing disruptions by keeping them hidden made it challenging for the company to intervene or assist if issues arose.
When probed about whether companies enforce dating restrictions to uphold the image of their artists, Jessica clarified that, in her experience, the aim was to prevent complications for the idol, their group, and the company, rather than crafting a specific image.
Reflecting on the broader question of whether dating bans are beneficial for idols, Jessica expressed skepticism, highlighting that these restrictions are often imposed on underaged or adolescent idols.
Source: KB
