Netizens react to allegations that rookie artists had to pay to perform during 'KCON LA 2025'

K-pop fans in popular Korean online communities are expressing outrage and anger after learning that rookie artists had to pay a hefty fee just to perform on 'X STAGE' at the 'KCON LA 2025.'

According to industry insiders on August 8, the rookie artists' teams who performed on the 'X STAGE' each had to pay nearly 100 million KRW (~ 72,000 USD). One official explained to a media outlet, "We knew that the label had to pay for the flight and the hotel. But once we got here, we learned that we were not going to be provided with meals either. We even had to pay additional rental fees."

Moreover, the official alleged that artists performing on the main stage were forced to shoulder additional expenses without receiving any payment. CJ ENM only covered airfare and lodging for the performers, leaving the labels responsible for costs such as staff travel, as well as hair, makeup, and styling fees. The official described the entire event as nothing less than “exploitation.”

Korean netizens and K-pop fans gathered in a popular online community to express their thoughts. Some K-pop fans shared their favorite artists never attended the KCON, and now they understand why. 

They commented:

"Aren't all music programs like that?"

"But this isn't a free music show. It's a paid concert where attendees pay a lot of money to go."

"So that’s why my faves never went near KCON… Even though they’re from a survival show, I thought they’d be invited at least once, but they never showed up. I was like, 'That’s not fair,' but turns out it was because they had no money to go."

"Are they thugs?"

"Wow, Mnet really is a thug. They must’ve made billions just from ticket sales."

"CJ is famous for treating artists badly and bossing them around to appear at MAMA too. Total gangsters. But fans still watch their survival shows, so Mnet stays successful."

"They rip so much money from fans through ticket prices and have no conscience."

"Wow, my faves aren’t even the type to appear there, but they went just so more fans could see them."

"Poor small companies can’t afford to go."

"At least give them food."

"Wow... That's really scummy."

"Thugs… where does all the ticket money go?"

"If you’re going to do that, either don’t charge for tickets or make them cheaper."

"And yet they still sell so many tickets."

"My faves really went just for the fans… that’s awful."

"Do CJ’s own artists have to pay too?"

"My faves basically volunteered for free for the fans."

"This is pure abuse of power."

"Wow. That’s messed up."

"Are they out of their minds?"

"CJ needs to go under."

"Crazy… this is peak corporate greed."

"Does CJ have no money?"

"CJ is famous for treating artists badly and bossing them around to appear at MAMA too. Total gangsters. But fans still watch their survival shows, so Mnet stays successful."

"'Opportunity,' my ass. They also milk money from KCON content. Streaming is only partly available on TVING, you have to pay for extra memberships separately, and to rewatch you have to subscribe to YouTube Premium. Other concerts even sold boring after-party content, and they’re pulling the same nonsense here."

"Wow, this is some serious exploitation."