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From BTS’ Suga and SuperM to Mina from Twice and Aron from Nu’est, how K-pop is dealing with mental health

  • The K-pop industry is paying more attention to the mental health of its stars, especially during these difficult times
  • Labels, celebrities and fans have increasingly talked about improving mental health care and reducing stigma

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Suga from BTS has spoken out about mental health. The K-pop industry is taking note of mental health issues among its stars. Photo: Big Hit Entertainment
Tamar Herman

As the doom of 2020 gives way to 2021, conversations raising awareness about mental health care are coming from the world of K-pop.

The year began with Nu’est member Aron taking a break from the industry after experiencing symptoms of anxiety on January 2, shortly after his group performed at K-pop company Big Hit Entertainment’s New Year’s Eve concert.

Two days later, it was revealed that boy band SuperM was teaming up with the Prudential insurance company for a pan-Asian campaign dubbed We Do Well Together. The aim is “to encourage people across Asia to stay well and healthy, and have fun doing it” through a series of promotional tie-in releases and events.
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Ethnomusicologist Stephanie Choi told the Post that “corona blues” had sparked a growing dialogue in South Korean society about mental health issues. “I think it would be timely for a megagroup like SuperM to talk about mental health to their fans around the world. I don’t think their project has to do particularly with K-pop artists,” she said.

Aron from Nu'est. Photo: Pledis Entertainment
Aron from Nu'est. Photo: Pledis Entertainment
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The K-pop industry has often been accused by Western media of having a “dark side” that leads to suicides of young stars. The “dark side” narrative is considered by many to disregard similar issues in Hollywood and other Western industries, such as the “27 Club”, the colloquial term for the deaths of many popular 27-year-old musicians in the second half of the 20th century.

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