A recent episode of the YouTube show Is it really the end? shook the K-POP community. Broadcast on April 30, this program brought together three former idols of second generation groups: Raina (After School), Hyerin (Exid) and Eungyo (F-Ve Dolls).
Through a discussion without tongue in wood with the host Kim Ddol-Ddol, they raised the veil on a subject long considered taboo in the industry: love stories between idols.
Today far from their stars careers, the three artists first gave some news. Hyerin is now working in fashion marketing, while preparing her debut as DJ and actress of musicals.
Eungyo pursues a career in musicals, while Raina has just released a new album, showing that she has never really shot the music page.
But it was by approaching the question of romantic relationships in the K-Pop universe that the show really took an unexpected turn. “We were sending emails to see each other in secret,” says Raina.
In reality, the method was even more ingenious: the two people shared The same mail account and communicated by leaving messages in draftssometimes accompanied by selfies. “If you did not consult the message in time, you missed the appointment,” she said.
Asked about the prohibitions to go out imposed by agencies, Raina surprised everyone: “We always found ways. Many of us used emails to communicate.” She even confessed to having had a relationship with another idol: “It was he who dredged me first.
We had to break up because of our agencies, but we then returned together. ” She said her boyfriend had seen herself confiscate Through his agency, which pushed them to trick more.
Raina criticized dating prohibitions, believing that they were counterproductive: “It provokes a Romeo and Juliet effect. The idols will eventually see themselves whatever happens. If we leave them alone, they will often separate naturally.”
For his part, Hyerin explained that the Exid agency was pretty cool on this subject. “The idols were exchanging their contacts during birthdays. It was not as strict as in other agencies.” A revelation that surprised, even made jealous, his colleagues on the set.
Then the shock time has arrived. Raina dropped: “I heard about idols who came out with several members of the same group.” A heavy silence has settled. But she immediately nuanced: “This kind of situation exists, but it remains marginal. In each group, there are different people. It is not the majority.”
These kinds of confidences illustrates how complex the relationships between idols can be … and explosive, especially when they involve people from the same group.
Hyerin then told an amazing anecdote: when tours abroad, idols, boys and girls, found themselves in separate rooms To chat and play a good version of “action or truth”.
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“We quoted the name of a celebrity, and those who had already come out with her had to raise their hands”, she explained. A revelation that shocked Eungyo: “This is the first time I have heard that!” To which Kim Ddol-Ddol responded with humor: “The world of idols is a bit like the jungle.” Hyerin compared this atmosphere to that of university campuses, where everyone ends up knowing each other … or get out together.
Despite prohibitions, contractual clauses and public image pressure, these confidences allowed fans to discover a more human and intimate facet of idols. The show quickly became viral, fans greeting the courage of the guests while expressing their surprise in the face of their revelations.
A very shared internet users’ reaction
But on the side of South Korean Internet users, the reactions were much more divided, even critical. Many have judged these revelations inappropriate, fearing that they would relaunch rumors and harm idols still in activity.
“Why talk about the love life of other people on television?” commented a surfer, while another added:
“I have never been curious about these kinds of stories… it is always the juniors who suffer from it.”
Some believe that these ancient idols use the anecdotes of the past as a media lever:
“Now that they no longer do their real job, their job seems to be to tell the gossip in industry.”
Still others say they are tired of this kind of repetitive content:
“We have heard that for years. It looks like it has become a routine in shows.”
“Let them talk about their own stories, not those of others, especially if it is to remain vague.”
Finally, a surfer summed up the general annoyance by launching:
“We know too much now…”
« Idols are also humans«
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