If you thought that being a K-Pop idol guarantees a glamorous lifestyle and only fun, we cannot emphasize just how wrong you are.
Every agency has their own rules that all trainees must abide by and sometimes, it means giving up a bit of freedom that one would have had if they were not idol trainees.
Of course, some guidelines are actually healthy and beneficial as well, but for the most part, being an idol trainee means being in a controlled environment.
Below are the six things that YG idol trainees have to sacrifice if they want to continue working towards their dreams.
Dating
Just like pretty much every agency out there in the industry, dating is forbidden, and YG Entertainment is no exception to this policy. iKON member Bobby once appeared on MBC’s ‘Radio Star’ and stated that despite shedding out of his status as a trainee and debuting as a professional idol, he too was prohibited from dating. BLACKPINK member JiSoo also once revealed that meal times for male and female idol trainees were also different to ensure the least amount of contact and exposure between each other.
Traveling
WINNER member SeungYoon talked about how the only travel experience he had was a field trip he went on during his days back in school.
Going To Clubs
If you’re one of those types of people who really enjoy the nightlife and can’t resist going out on a Saturday night to dance the night away, forget about joining YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK members once appeared as guests on JYP Entertainment founder Park JinYoung’s TV show and revealed that the very first time they ever went to a club was during their one year debut anniversary celebration.
Driving
Even if one has a driver’s license and years of experience driving, all YG Entertainment trainees are forbidden from ever driving on their own. We can assume that this is a safety measure to minimize accidents. WINNER member Mino revealed that all idol trainees have to get permission before purchasing a car as well.
Cosmetic Surgery + Tattoos
This is somewhat surprising since many idols invest into looking beautiful, but it seems that YG Entertainment forbids all trainees to get any cosmetic surgery or tattoos until they actually become idols.
Drinking & Smoking
This one doesn’t really seem to be unfair as it actually helps the idol trainees the most. If you like to indulge yourself with alcohol and a few puffs here and there, you probably won’t last long in YG Entertainment.
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Um, yeah sure, no cosmetic surgery. Working for YG sucks