K-pop group EVERGLOW has been thrilling fans for six years, but a shocking revelation from member Yiren has exposed a surprising truth.
Fans were already enraged with Yue Hua Entertainment for the group’s lack of promotions and limited activities compared to other artists of the agency. The latest claims from Yerin have added fuel to the fire as fans are shocked to learn that EVERGLOW members have not been paid through the entirety of their careers.
Fans are disappointed that the group, which celebrated its 6th anniversary on Tuesday, March 18, has not been paid since its debut.
While talking to a fan on Bubble, the youngest EVERGLOW member dropped a bombshell saying,
“I love performing on stage, but I’ve had zero income from it. I don’t want to give up on this career, though. In reality, we haven’t received payment once, so our upcoming tour is really something we want to show our fans. We’re working hard to prepare, but there have been no new songs or stages to share with everyone… haha!”
Yiren
Fans have been slamming Yue Hua Entertainment since her heartbreaking messages on Bubble went viral. Fans took to social media to express their anger and also praised Yiren for speaking out. They commented, “This is so undeserved”, “They were so popular it sucks that the company poorly managed them”, “What’s even more wild is Yiren is under a Chinese label where she had solo activities”, and more.
Yiren is a 24-year-old Chinese K-pop star under Yue Hua Entertainment. She is one of the busiest members of EVERGLOW, who actively engages in individual activities in China. Still, it is astonishing that she has not been paid a dime in six years. For those unversed, she even debuted as a solo artist in 2022 with the single “Call Call”.
EVERGLOW, a 6-member K-pop girl group, entered the K-pop scene in March 2019 with the single album “Arrival of EVERGLOW”. The group has not received compensation for their work, despite their extensive touring and comeback releases. Notably, Yue Hua Entertainment has yet to comment on the shocking claims made by Yiren.
Unfortunately, EVERGLOW’s situation is not unique in K-pop, where idols often struggle with debt and unpaid settlements. In K-pop, idols sign exclusive contracts with agencies, typically lasting 3-7 years. After debut, they earn money through music sales, concerts, and endorsements, but agencies take a significant portion (50-80%) of the revenue. Idols may receive settlement payments, but can also incur debt due to expenses like training fees, styling expenses, and music video production costs.
This system can lead to unfair contract terms, lack of transparency, and financial struggles for idols. Fans are calling for reforms to ensure fair contracts, transparency, and accountability to protect idols’ rights.