“‘Idol Labor Union’ to Launch as Early as This Year: ‘The String of Tragedies Must Stop’” n.news.naver.com/article/014… Reporter Kim Ye-ji, Financial News The launch of the first-ever labor union for idols is reportedly imminent, with expectations that it could be established within this year. The union aims to focus on improving idols’ working conditions and strengthening systems for mental health and human rights protection. Observers are watching closely to see whether this will mark a turning point for labor conditions among pop culture artists, including idols. According to the Idol Union Preparatory Committee on the 6th, the committee submitted its union establishment report to the Seongnam Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor last September, and on October 13, it filed additional documents requested by the ministry to strengthen the recognition of idols as workers. The committee expects to receive official approval for the union’s establishment as early as this month. Seo Min-seon, a research fellow at the Democratic Party’s Youth Policy Research Institute and the person in charge of the union’s overall preparation and external communications, explained, “Currently, around ten members, including active singers, have joined.” On the same day, the committee also sent a formal request to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) for a “survey and institutional reform regarding mental health management and malicious comment response for idols and pop culture artists.” In the request, the committee urged the government to investigate whether agencies are responding appropriately—through legal action, deletion requests, or lawsuit support—when artists suffer from malicious comments. They also called for strengthened oversight of agency management practices. The committee further asked the ministry to confirm whether entertainment agencies currently have and operate mental health management manuals, and whether concrete actions—such as notifying guardians of warning signs, linking artists to medical care, and managing counseling records—are being implemented. If such manuals exist only in formality, the committee urged the ministry to create and enforce a standardized national guideline. The statement continued, “Idol workers are suffering from industrial accidents such as musculoskeletal disorders, overwork deaths, and mental illness due to prolonged periods of training, filming, and overseas schedules,” pointing out that “some agencies excessively control idols’ private lives—including dating, medical records, and personal interactions—causing psychological isolation.” The committee emphasized the need for an effective mental health crisis response manual. They also criticized the current MCST model exclusive contract, which defines artists merely as “service providers,” making it difficult for them to be covered by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The committee argued, “In reality, idols perform labor under the supervision and control of their agencies, following schedules at designated locations such as practice rooms or dormitories, and receive continuous payment in the form of settlements. Therefore, they should be recognized as workers under the Labor Standards Act,” calling on the government to prepare specific interpretive guidelines. On the same day, the committee also submitted a petition to the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office requesting the cancellation of HYBE’s “Best Company” certification, and another to the Korea Copyright Protection Agency urging enforcement of agency mental health support manuals and improvements to human rights conditions across the industry. The committee added, “Because idols are not legally recognized as workers, they are excluded from industrial accident insurance, the four major social insurances, and workplace harassment protection laws.” They further revealed that they are “considering filing a complaint against agencies that failed to report an idol’s death to the labor ministry, viewing it as an attempt at concealment.”