How K-pop Trainees Train, Sign, and Win Fans

Level: B2

Printable: Student handout (PDF) | Teacher’s key (PDF)

Reading

Imagine you are fourteen. After school you take a bus to a practice building, where you will sing, dance, and study languages until late in the evening. Tomorrow you will do it again, and the day after that. Nobody has promised you a place in a group, and nobody can. This is the life of a K-pop trainee, a young person who has signed a contract with an agency in the hope of one day making a debut. South Korean companies use the system to build performers from scratch, and many people describe it as one of the most grueling routes into show business anywhere.

Lessons usually cover singing and dance, and often foreign languages, acting, and how to behave on camera. Agencies recruit through open auditions, street casting, and online submissions, and many trainees join as children. There is no official figure for how long training lasts. Some trainees debut after a few years, while others wait far longer, and many fall short of a debut altogether. EJAE is a well-known example. She joined SM Entertainment at eleven and left more than a decade later without being placed in a group. Years afterward she helped write and sing “Golden”, the song from KPop Demon Hunters that topped charts around the world.

Contracts are where the system has been most contentious. In 2009, three members of the group TVXQ went to court to challenge a thirteen-year deal with their agency, arguing that it was too long and too one-sided. Their case drew the attention of regulators, and Korea’s Fair Trade Commission soon introduced a standard entertainment contract that caps exclusive deals at seven years. Fans have long talked about a “seven-year curse”, because groups often split up or changed agencies when their first contract ended, although more groups now renew early.

Trainees now have a standard contract of their own. It says that a trainee deal should run for no more than three years in principle, although it can be renewed, and it puts the cost of training on the agency. It is only a recommended template, not a law, so the details still vary from company to company. Korean law has also added protections, such as limits on the working hours of young performers and a ban on getting in the way of their schooling. The standard contracts were revised again in January 2026, with clearer payment deadlines and wider mental health support. Researchers who study the system argue that enforcement is still uneven, and because training so often begins in childhood, the industry draws close scrutiny from lawmakers and the public.

At the same time, the system has gone global. Agencies hold auditions in many countries in order to find talent that will appeal to audiences abroad, and group members now come from Japan, China, Thailand, the United States, Australia, and beyond. One large agency said in 2023 that about 28 percent of its trainees in Korea were foreign nationals. Some groups go further: VCHA, launched by JYP, was formed entirely from trainees chosen in Canada and the United States. Researchers suggest that a member from abroad can also bolster a group’s popularity in that member’s home country, which helps explain why agencies look so widely.

Fans are the other half of the system. Some follow trainees long before they debut, and agencies run their own apps so that fans can read posts, watch live broadcasts, and buy merchandise in one place. Weverse, run by HYBE, is one of the biggest, with users in 245 countries and regions, and company figures suggest that roughly nine in ten live outside Korea. Scholars call the bond between idol and fan parasocial: it feels personal to the fan, even though the contact is mostly one-way. Agencies depend on that closeness, and critics say it adds to the pressure on young idols to look and act in ways that keep fans loyal.

Supporters of the system point to the polished performances and the worldwide audience it produces. Critics point to teenagers who spend their youth in practice rooms, and to the many who leave with nothing to show for it. Reliable public figures on how many trainees ever debut are hard to find, so any claim about the odds deserves caution. As the model spreads to other countries, one thing to watch is whether the protections Korea has added will travel with it.

Vocabulary

Each word has a frequency score, a rank, and a tag. The score shows how common the word is in modern English: higher means more common, and each full point means roughly ten times more common. The rank is the word’s position on a list of about 321,000 English word forms, from most to least common. The tag shows where you are most likely to meet the word: Current, Formal, Literary, or Dated. The paragraph number shows where the word first appears in the reading. The labels are information, not instructions. Deciding which words are worth your time is up to you. How to read the scores, ranks, and tags.

South Korean companies use the system to build performers from scratch.
She learned to bake bread from scratch during the holidays.

Many people describe the trainee system as a grueling route into show business.
The cyclists faced a grueling climb in the heat.

Agencies recruit through open auditions, street casting, and online submissions.
The hospital is trying to recruit more nurses this year.

Many trainees fall short of a debut altogether.
Sales fell short of the company’s target last month.

Contracts are where the trainee system has been most contentious.
The city’s new parking rules are a contentious subject.

The TVXQ members argued that their contract was too one-sided.
The newspaper’s report was one-sided because it quoted only the mayor.

A standard contract caps exclusive deals at seven years.
The city caps rent increases at three percent a year.

A standard contract caps exclusive deals at seven years.
The shop has an exclusive agreement to sell the brand.

The standard trainee contract is a recommended template, not a law.
Use this template to write your cover letter.

Researchers argue that enforcement of the rules is still uneven.
Strict enforcement of parking rules cleared the street.

The industry draws close scrutiny from lawmakers and the public.
The mayor’s spending came under scrutiny after the report.

A member from abroad can bolster a group’s popularity at home.
Good exam results helped to bolster her confidence.

Scholars call the bond between idol and fan parasocial.
Some viewers form a parasocial bond with their favorite streamer.

Supporters point to the polished performances the system produces.
She gave a polished speech without using any notes.

Critics point to the many trainees who leave with nothing to show for it.
He studied for years but had nothing to show for it.

Activity Page

Open the activity page in a new tab

Speed Challenge

Answer 12 questions against the clock. Every wrong answer adds 5 seconds, and the lowest score wins. Open the speed challenge in a new tab.

Shadow Reading and Typing: Why I Follow the Trainees

This short text uses many of the words from this lesson. Use it for shadow reading (reading aloud along with a model) and for typing practice.

I became a fan of a girl group three years ago, and the idea of a trainee seemed strange to me at first. In my country, nobody builds a singer from scratch. Then I read about the daily routine of a trainee, and I realized how grueling the road to a debut can be.

What surprised me most was the paperwork. I had assumed that contracts were simple, but some were widely seen as one-sided. Korea now has standard contracts, and one of them caps exclusive deals at seven years. Still, enforcement can be uneven, so I try not to assume that every problem is solved.

I also think about the fans. I use an app where I can watch live broadcasts, and I know the bond I feel is parasocial. The idols do not know me, but their music can bolster my mood after a bad day. Agencies recruit in many countries, so someone from my city might audition one day.

Some trainees fall short of a debut and are left with nothing to show for it. That worries me a lot. I still admire the polished performances, and I hope the industry keeps facing scrutiny so that young people are treated fairly.

How to practice

Read the text silently once and check any words you are unsure of.
Read it aloud slowly, one sentence at a time. On the typing page, the Listen button reads each line with your device’s voice, so you can listen first and then repeat.
Shadow: read aloud again at a natural speed, trying to keep a steady rhythm without stopping.
Record yourself, listen back, and note one sentence to practice again.
Type it on the typing page below and check your speed and accuracy.

Open the typing practice in a new tab

Comprehension Questions

What is a K-pop trainee, and what do trainees usually study?
Why can no one promise a trainee a debut?
What does the story of EJAE show about the trainee system?
Why did three members of TVXQ go to court, and what changed afterward?
What does the standard trainee contract say about length and costs, and why is it not a complete solution?
Which other protections for young performers does the reading mention?
How is the system becoming more international, and why do agencies want this?
How do apps such as Weverse connect agencies, idols, and fans?
What do supporters and critics each say about the system?

IELTS-Style Questions

True, False, or Not Given: “Korea’s standard trainee contract is a law that all agencies must follow.” Explain your answer using evidence from the reading.
Yes, No, or Not Given: “The writer believes that claims about the odds of debuting should be treated with caution.” Explain your answer using evidence from the reading.
Author’s purpose: Why does the writer begin by asking you to imagine you are fourteen? What does this opening add to the reading?

AI Discussion Prompt

I just read an article about the K-pop trainee system. It covered how trainees train for years without a promise of debut, the story of EJAE, the contract limits introduced in Korea, the growing number of foreign trainees, and how global fans connect with idols through apps. I am an English learner at about B2 level. Please ask me one question at a time, starting with whether I listen to K-pop or any other kind of pop music. Respond to my ideas first, then briefly correct any language errors, and ask follow-up questions that make me explain my reasons.

AI Vocabulary Prompt

I want to practice vocabulary from an article about the K-pop trainee system. Please quiz me on the following words one at a time, using a mix of question types: multiple choice, true/false, and sentence completion. Give me feedback after each answer before moving on, and bring back the words I miss later. Here are the words: from scratch, grueling, recruit, fall short, contentious, one-sided, caps, exclusive, template, enforcement, scrutiny, bolster, parasocial, polished, nothing to show for it.

Discussion Questions

Do you listen to K-pop or another kind of pop music? What do you like about it?
Have you ever practiced something for years, such as a sport, an instrument, or a language? What kept you going?
How many hours a day can a teenager train hard without being harmed? Explain your view.
Would you like to audition to become a trainee? Why or why not?
In your country, how are young singers, athletes, or actors usually discovered and trained?
Nobody can promise a trainee a debut. Is it fair to ask young people to take that risk?
Many trainees leave with nothing to show for it. What could agencies do to help trainees who do not debut?
EJAE never debuted, but she later helped write and sing a worldwide hit. Can years of training be useful even when the original goal is not reached?
A seven-year limit on exclusive contracts is meant to protect artists. Could it also create problems for artists or agencies?
The standard trainee contract is a recommended template, not a law. Should governments make such rules compulsory?
What are the benefits and risks for a teenager who moves to another country to train as an idol?
Groups now include members from many countries. Is that a good thing, or does K-pop lose something?
Fans can feel close to idols they have never met. What are the good and bad sides of these parasocial bonds?
Sport, classical music, and acting also train children from a young age. Should there be global rules for the training of young performers?

Language Focus: Purpose Clauses: To, In Order To, and So That

What it is: A purpose clause explains why someone does something. After a verb, use to or in order to with the base form of a verb. Use so that with a new subject and verb when the purpose involves a different person or a result.

Why writers use it: Writers use purpose clauses to give reasons for actions in a short, clear way. In order to sounds a little more formal than to, and so that is often used with can, could, or will. A negative purpose uses in order not to or so that … not.

Examples from the reading:

“Agencies hold auditions in many countries in order to find talent that will appeal to audiences abroad…”
“…agencies run their own apps so that fans can read posts, watch live broadcasts, and buy merchandise in one place.”
“…three members of the group TVXQ went to court to challenge a thirteen-year deal with their agency…”
“South Korean companies use the system to build performers from scratch…”

Practice task: Join these two ideas with in order to: “Trainees practice for many hours each day. They want to improve their dancing.”

(Example answer: “Trainees practice for many hours each day in order to improve their dancing.”)

Online Resources

Is the ‘7-year itch’ a thing of the past? (The Korea Herald). A news analysis of the seven-year contract limit and why more groups now renew early, linked to paragraph 3.
[Exclusive] Nearly 30% of Hybe K-pop trainees are non-Koreans (The Korea Herald). The report behind the figure in paragraph 5, with a researcher explaining why agencies audition abroad.
K-pop is becoming more international: what that means for the K in the genre (The Conversation). A researcher looks at non-Korean members in K-pop groups and what fans think about it, relevant to paragraph 5.
Platformization of fandom in the post-pandemic music industries (Flow Journal). A short academic article on fan apps and parasocial bonds, which explains the ideas in paragraph 6.
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songwriter EJAE finally hits the big time after ‘Golden’ climbs charts globally (Korea JoongAng Daily). An interview with EJAE about her years as a trainee and the song described in paragraph 2.