South Korea is cracking down on exploitation within the Okay-pop trade. A brand new regulation handed by way of a status committee of the Nationwide Meeting strengthens exertions coverage for underage Okay-pop idols and mandates extra monetary transparency of leisure companies.
The tradition, sports activities and tourism committee handed the modification to the regulation at the building of pop culture and humanities trade on April 21. in step with a record (hyperlink in Korean) from Yonhap Information Company. A part of the coverage addresses problems associated with unfair or opaque contracts, a convention ubiquitous within the Okay-pop trade that incessantly entraps younger, aspiring stars exploitation agreements.
The regulation comes months after a explosive exploitation scandal involving Korean pop famous person Lee Seung-gi. In December, the singer sued his companyHook Leisure, for embezzlement and fraud. Lee claimed that he had now not gained any virtual song income throughout his 18-year profession with the corporate, in spite of a couple of hit albums and common good fortune.
Korean media outlet Dispatch stated the famous person labored below a «slave contract«A time period used within the Okay-pop trade to confer with long-lasting, unequal preparations between artists and labels.
Restrictions on operating hours, ban on ‘excessively’ managing the semblance of artists
Underneath the brand new regulations, companies should reveal their monetary statements to artists once or more a 12 months, which used to be in the past the case most effective to be had on request. The alternate additionally calls for contracts to incorporate particular phrases about charges and bills.
«Newcomers or celebrities who worry struggle with their companies might in finding it tough to request details about the agreement,» stated Consultant Lim Jong-seong, a member of the Democratic Celebration who proposed the regulation. in a commentary (hyperlink in Korean) to information broadcast Dispatch. «I be expecting that with necessary disclosure of accounting information there shall be fewer conflicts because of unfair remedy.»
The regulation additionally states extra restrictions on operating hours for underage artists. Up to now, 15 to twenty 12 months olds have been allowed to paintings a most of 40 hours every week, whilst more youthful artists had a prohibit of 35 hours. Operating hours have now been lowered around the board and extra segmented by way of age team.
Artists elderly 15 to 19 won’t paintings greater than 35 hours every week, with a most of 7 hours consistent with day; 12 to fifteen 12 months olds are allowed 30 hours every week, additionally with a most of 7 hours; and the ones below the age of 12 can paintings 25 hours every week, restricted to 6 hours consistent with day.
The coverage additionally prohibits companies from interfering with more youthful artists’ proper to training.overdone” controlling their look, or endangering their well being and protection.
Citable: A step ahead for law within the Okay-pop trade
“We can abolish the absurd practices of the trade at the back of the advance of world-acclaimed Okay-content… Thru this legislative reform, we will be able to search to offer protection to the rights of popular culture artists who don’t obtain an excellent value for his or her cultural and inventive inventive actions.” —A commentary from Park Bo-gyun (hyperlink in Korean), South Korean minister of tradition, sports activities and tourism, quoted by way of Busan Ilbo newspaper
The Lee Seung-gi scandal resulted in the hot regulation
For the legislative power, Okay-pop artists can thank the Lee scandal.
Hook Leisure denied the allegations leveled by way of Leethat have been printed to the general public thru a record of Cargo (hyperlink in Korean) in November. The record, which printed a replica of Lee’s contract, argued that he have been in arrears for years, in spite of a contractual settlement to separate earnings 7:3 with Hook.
In December, the company paid Lee 5.4 billion received ($4.12 million) in its agreement in regards to the benefit dispute—however with out clarifying why it gave that quantity. The singer posted on Instagraminforming his greater than 4 million fans that whilst he had gained the cash, the larger drawback used to be a loss of transparency.
“5 billion has now are available in,” Lee wrote within the picture caption. “After all I do not understand how and on what grounds that used to be calculated. As a result of I do not perceive Hook’s calculation approach, I stay combating in courtroom. It’ll be a tedious combat and I need to ask for forgiveness for inflicting fatigue to the target audience observing this.
In gentle of that incident, the regulation used to be handed in April is dubbed the Lee Seung-gi Disaster Prevention Act.
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