Korean idol

An idol (Korean: 아이돌; RR: aidol) is a type of entertainer who works in the field of Korean popular music (K-pop), either as a member of a group or as a solo act. They typically work for an entertainment agency that operates a highly managed star system that idols are produced by and debut under. Idols undergo extensive training in dance, vocal performance, and foreign language, and tend to represent a hybridized convergence of visuals, music, and fashion. Idols maintain a carefully curated public image and social media presence, and dedicate significant time and resources to building relationships with fans through concerts and meetups.

Inspired by the heyday of MTV in the United States, Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment, set his sights on laying the foundation for the modern Korean pop music industry. He witnessed New Kids on the Block become very popular in Korea in the 1990s. In addition, he popularized the trainee business model from the Japanese idol industry that was founded by Johnny Kitagawa; Hundreds of candidates each day attend the global auditions held by Korean entertainment agencies to perform for the chance of becoming a trainee. This was part of a concept labeled "cultural technology."

The trainee process lasts for an indefinite period of time, ranging from months to years, and usually involves vocal, dance, and language classes taken while living together with other trainees, who sometimes attend school at the same time. However, some trainees drop out of school to focus on their careers.

Once a trainee enters the system, they are regulated in multiple aspects, including personal life, physical condition, and visual appearance. The survival, training, and regulation take precedence over natural talent in the production of Korean idols. The system requires trainees to maintain a "wholesome image" while remaining "private about their lives and thoughts".

Former trainees have reported that they were required to go through plastic surgeries, such as a blepharoplasty or a rhinoplasty, in order to adhere to the acceptable Korean beauty standards. Further criticism towards the trainee system arose regarding the companies' harsh weight restrictions, which often caused trainees to pass out from exhaustion or dehydration in an attempt to reach the required weight for their desired program.

The investment in a potential trainee could be expensive. In 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported that the cost of training one member of Girls' Generation under SM Entertainment was US$3 million.

When trainees are finally chosen to debut in new groups, they will face a new set of personalities created by the company to cater to the entertainment market. Each member of an idol group has their own character to play, and therefore an important part of their job duties is to maintain that temperament in any kind of exposure they may get. One way to build the personal image of idol groups is through social media services with content managed by the company to ensure the consistency of these personal characteristics.

The relationship between Korean idols and their fans can be characterized as "parasocial kin," which means for fans to create a familial connection with their idols rather than just being "look-from-afar" fans. In some cases, within and outside of fandoms, fans also create familial connections with other fans through similar interests or just to make friends. These interactions can be initiated by the fans, the company, or the idols themselves, where they would most likely still have to go through their company to be approved. Some projects or activities created by fans for the idols must also be approved by the venue or the idols’ company to minimize any harm to the idols and fan participants. Interactions and fan connections can be seen through events like fan meetings, also known as artist engagements, concerts or fan sites, and artist cafés. An annual event known as KCon is also a place for fans and artists to interact. The nature of this "parasocial kin" relationship can also be seen in the proactive participation of Korean idol fans in the production of idol groups. Even before debut, some trainees would already have their own fans. This leads to the "kinship" starting out early, and building that up is very important for the idol as an artist and the fan as a supporter. Once debuted, fans grow alongside their idols and idol-fan relationships become deeper. If anything happens, fans have their own unique ways of show their attitude and opinions on issues concerning "unfair" actions of management companies. Under this situation, fans often appear to be protecting idols from company mistreatment due to the familial connection built between both sides.