Seoul, March 20, 2026 (AFP) - Behind the BTS comeback, the dark side of K-pop

NAMPA / AFP

2026-03-20

K-pop oozes with talent, flair and hard work, but the spectacularly successful South Korean music industry also has a dark side -- sometimes with tragic results. Ahead of BTS's comeback concert on Saturday, AFP looks at the intense competition, the gruelling training, the tight control over stars' lives and the sometimes obsessive fan behaviour in the industry. - 300 groups - South Korean record labels launch dozens of new groups every year in......

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