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Photo by Andrew Parks for WS

South Korea Passes Law Regulating K-Pop Industry

Andrew Parks

By Andrew Parks

Contributor
on 07.08.14 in News
@selftitledmag

A long overdue law protecting underage K-pop stars from unhealthy labor practices and overtly sexualized performances is set to go into effect July 29, after a six-month notification period meant to raise awareness of rules that guarantee the right to “learn, rest and sleep.” According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Korea’s entertainment business is notoriously improvisational and unregulated. In-demand K-pop stars — many of whom are teenage ‘idols’ — have been known to rehearse and perform without sleep, while Korean TV dramas are notorious for going into production without a complete script, providing actors their lines on a day-to-day basis before shooting scenes, often overnight.”

Breaking the law will result in a warning from the culture ministry initially, with further failure to comply netting a fine of around $10,000. Weekly working hours for children younger than 15 are also not supposed to exceed 35 hours, and minors aged 15-18 are limited to 40 hours. As for working between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., performers must get the written consent of their guardians beforehand, so keep that in mind before next year’s “K-Pop Night Out” showcase at SXSW, kids! (The photo above is actually taken from this year’s HyunA set, which would have qualified for some of the above if she wasn’t 22.)

Watch an ABC segment about “K-pop boot camp” below…

K-Pop Boot Camp

via YouTube