K-Pop And Its Obesession With Survival Shows

A number of Korean pop groups have achieved worldwide success and recognition in recent years, such as, Enhypen, Treasure,  BTS, and BLACKPINK. But for many K-Pop idols, the road to stardom is grueling and often involves survival competitions.

Survival competitions are reality TV shows that pit aspiring K-Pop trainees against each other in a series of challenges and performances. The goal is to eliminate contestants one by one until only a few remain. These contestants are then chosen to debut as members of an upcoming K-Pop group. South Korea’s most popular survival competitions include shows like Produce 101, Mix Nine, and I-LAND.

So why are K-Pop idols so obsessed with survival competitions? One reason is that they offer an excellent opportunity for aspiring trainees to showcase their talents and potentially become part of the next big K-Pop group. In a highly competitive industry like K-Pop, where thousands of trainees vie for a limited number of spots, survival competitions provide a way for talented individuals to stand out and gain exposure.

Survival competitions also appeal to K-Pop fans, who enjoy watching the drama and excitement of seeing their favorite trainees compete for a chance to debut. These shows often feature emotional moments and intense rivalries between contestants, which make them compelling to view.

However, survival competitions in K-Pop are also criticized. Some argue that the shows can be exploitative, with trainees subjected to grueling schedules and intense pressure to perform. There have also been controversies surrounding vote-rigging and other unethical practices in some of the most popular survival competitions.

Despite these concerns, survival competitions remain a popular and often necessary part of the K-Pop industry. Aspiring trainees, they offer a chance to become K-Pop idols. For fans, they provide a thrilling and entertaining glimpse into K-Pop’s highly competitive world. Whether or not the obsession with survival competitions will continue remains to be seen.

However, it’s clear that they have played a significant role in shaping the K-Pop industry as we know it today.