[instiz] LEE SEUNG-GI SAYING THOSE WORDS TO A TRAINEE WHO FAINTED MID-PERFORMANCE… “THIS IS CRAZY” FLOOD OF CRITICISM

The China-based OTT platform iQIYI’s joint China-Korea global audition program Starlight Boys has become embroiled in a human rights controversy.

The controversy stems from a segment where, until 56 out of 68 contestants were chosen, they were repeatedly made to dance intensely for around 20 times. Despite some participants collapsing and crying from exhaustion, the dancing continued without stopping, drawing criticism for being excessive.

On the 7th, an online post titled “The China-Korea survival show that’s so ruthless it’s being talked about” became a hot topic in online communities.

The post criticized the “Signal Song Mission” […] In this mission, all 68 contestants were placed in individual boxes, like dolls in a display, and were made to repeatedly perform the choreography for the show’s signal song in order to select 56 participants.

Ultimately, when a Chinese contestant protested the program’s format, saying, “We are not machines,” the “guider” Lee Seung-gi stepped in.

Lee Seung-gi responded to the protesting contestant, saying, “Did you come here to become an idol?” He continued, “The guiders who are the judges perform concerts with up to 30 songs, dancing this intensely in front of fans.”

However, Lee Seung-gi then persuaded the contestants, and after catching their breath, they continued with the mission until the end.

In response, Korean netizens expressed their outrage: “Is he crazy? Who dances 30 songs at a concert?” “30 songs is too much,” “They didn’t even give them water and made them do that. You can’t shield the production team,” and “If you give them attention, they’ll keep doing this, so we should just completely ignore the show.”

The iQIYI account on YouTube, where the broadcast was uploaded, has been flooded with negative comments from Chinese netizens.

Netizens commented, “It’s not normal to dance 20 times in a row without rest to the same song,” “This format is really exhausting. I don’t want to watch it,” “Who on earth came up with this broken competition system?” “They don’t treat the trainees like humans,” and “Excessive exercise in a short time can lead to muscle breakdown syndrome (a condition where muscles begin to break down due to high-intensity exercise repeated in a short period). They’re just chasing their dreams, but they’re being humiliated like this.”

Especially since Lee Seung-gi, a ballad singer, made these comments, both Chinese and Korean netizens have criticized him. One netizen said, “I’m a fan of Lee Seung-gi, but that statement is ridiculous,” adding, “Whether you’re an idol or a ballad singer, no one sings 10 or 20 songs in a row at a concert and dances nonstop. You take breaks in between to talk to the fans, and idols usually rest by rotating through unit stages.” 

In fact, a YouTuber pointed out in their review of the broadcast, “Even current idols like Hangyul collapsed from exhaustion after 10 rounds,” and noted, “They move as if they’re doing a burpee test where you work for 3 minutes, rest for 30 seconds, and repeat. Even professional idols don’t do 30 songs in a row.”

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