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

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.
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.

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.