No industry is as image-conscious or as micro-managed as K-Pop. Which is why the December 2017 suicide of Kim Jong-hyun, singer in SHINee, was such a revealing moment. In a note that described his deep depression and the grueling demands of his contract, Jong-hyun brought the costs of Korea's largest cultural export into sharp relief. VICE goes inside the K-pop industry to reveal how the country's record labels and entertainment conglomerates find, groom, and train the kids who want global fame, and learns why young Koreans are so eager to sacrifice their youth with no guarantee of success.
