Several landmark cases have brought these hidden practices into the public eye, prompting calls for industry-wide reform.
South Korea’s room salons (private karaoke rooms with hostesses) are legal, but they frequently serve as venues for prostitution. Investigative reports from The Korea Herald , BBC Korea , and Al Jazeera have documented how small to mid-tier entertainment companies use these venues to entertain potential investors. One former idol trainee told The New York Times in 2021: “My manager told me that if I didn’t go to a room salon with a producer, he would cancel my debut.” The trainee went, was sexually assaulted, and later left the industry. She described the arrangement as “fixed” because her agency coordinated the event, set the price, and collected a portion of the fee. south korean entertainment model prostitution s fixed
: Reports indicate that while high-class rings sometimes involve established celebrities, the majority of those targeted are "nugu" (unknown) trainees or bit-part players who are more vulnerable to coercion due to financial struggles or lack of industry protection. Several landmark cases have brought these hidden practices
: In February 2026 , Kim Dong-wan of the group Shinhwa sparked nationwide controversy by advocating for the legalization and regulation of prostitution to prevent exploitation and disease. The "Sponsorship" Mechanism One former idol trainee told The New York
The core of the issue lies in what industry insiders call a "fixed" ecosystem of power. Unlike the West, where the casting couch is an abuse of power, in South Korea’s historical entertainment culture, sexual exploitation was often institutionalized through seong-geoye (sexual entertaining) and the "sponsor" system.
Scandals like Burning Sun have highlighted instances where law enforcement officials were bribed to look the other way or actively protect those involved in illegal activities.