On the topic of whether there was mistreatment or not, we probably are not privy to all that was happening behind the scenes. I will use a case that was highly publicized due the death of this person at the time - Jung JaYeon. For those not familiar with this tragic event - https://www.theguardian.com/wo…-entertaiment-jang-jayeon
The media initially focused on slave contract but her suicide note was about abuse and exploitation. Will paste relevant points here:
* "In a damning letter naming the men responsible for the distress that may have caused her to take her life aged 26, Jang heaped shame on the country's entertainment industry with allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation."
* "Her allegations, leaked to the media, have prompted an outcry and forced the police to investigate her relationships with several powerful men.
The villain of the piece, according to South Korean reports, is her agent, Kim Sung-hoon, who is now in Japan following accusations he molested a male model. Jang reportedly claimed Kim had regularly beaten her and forced her to have sex with a string of VIPs, including directors, media executives and CEOs. She was also forced to serve and consume drinks and to act as an escort at golf matches, she wrote.
When police raided Kim's office, they discovered a shower and bed in a "secret room" on the third floor."
* "While the police investigate, the South Korean media has finally condemned the industry for the way it treats its most marketable - and usually female - talent.
Film and TV viewers are now wondering how big a part abuse and the demands of "slave contracts" played in a spate of celebrity suicides originally put down to the pressures of fame.
Jang's suicide, initially attributed to lingering depression over her parents' death in a car crash 10 years ago, is one of several among South Korean entertainers over the past year."
* "Three weeks after Jang's death, South Korea's huge online community is still buzzing. "Popseoul," who runs a celebrity gossip blog, said the actor's suicide was part of a "tragic trend".
"Exploitation and abuse is the dirty secret of the entertainment industry," she said, adding that many top celebrities, as former employees of seedy hostess clubs, were expected to continue "entertaining" producers and directors in their new careers.
"In many instances, the prospective star will meet the VIP alone, who hints at casting her, introducing her to another VIP or sponsoring her lavish lifestyle.
"It's just hushed up. It's part of the process of being a star." "
The reason why I brought this up is point out that we don't know what is happening to the celebrities behind the scenes. That actress not a unpopular one at that - "When Jang Ja-yeon killed herself at her home earlier this month, she not only deprived South Korea of a wildly popular soap star."
I remember reading that this type of thing also seem to happens to kpop stars too. I cannot vouch for this part since it's been so long and my memory is hazy but there were rumors/speculations based on what JYP once said that he was approached about one of his very popular female celebrity too but he declined (disclaimer again: a rumor and his comment was well after this actress's suicide). Who is at the helm of NJs can make a lot of difference for these girls (not just musically) and I believe one of the reasons why fans are choosing MHJ over BSH/Hybe, especially with BSH's choice of Hybe CEO.