Government launches seminar programs for parents of idol trainees

On December 11th, representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) held a seminar for parents of teen idols and trainees to further educate them on the risks concerning the career choice. Officials stated, "Trainees are often pulled into frauds and aren't given the necessary legal protection. This seminar was launched for government officials to relay accurate information to parents." According to investigations, large-scale entertainment companies house a maximum of 100 singer trainees and 60 actor trainees. They prepare for an average of 16 months to become a trainee and actually train for an additional 14 months. The average training period per day was revealed to be four to five hours, with the average debut age being 15 years old. Idols are contracted for an average of four years. The first lecturer of the seminar was the CEO of Jo Eun Entertainment, who's also a professor of broadcasting at Kookje University. He commented, "Becoming a celebrity is harder than being admitted to Seoul University. In the end, talent is power. Without vocal talent and acting skills, you will never succeed." He continued, "Parents need to stop reassuring themselves that their kids will be fine and start to really evaluate their skills. Get them tested by a professional, and if they don't have the skills to make the cut, they need to know when to quit. A proper entertainment agency will never ask for money up front. Always check for stability, but also their philosophy, plans, and experience." Kim Sung Joo, the father of a young trainee, stated, "A lot of companies try to suck money out of you under the guise of getting your kid into a movie or more training, so this seminar was a lot of help." Source + Photos: Donga Journal via Daum