K-Pop Idol Calls Out Agency For “Working Her Like A Horse” For 12 Years, No Rest

Now she’s with a different company.

SISTAR member Soyou got honest about her time in the girl group, and her comments are drawing attention to the intense demands placed on K-Pop idols behind the scenes.

SISTAR’s Soyou | @soooo_you/Instagram

During a recent appearance on a YouTube show hosted by DinDin, Soyou reflected on her time under her former agency, Starship Entertainment, revealing what she described as years of nonstop work with little to no rest.

According to Soyou, her schedule during her 12-year run left virtually no room to breathe. From debut through contract renewal, the idol never once had a proper break—despite repeatedly asking for time off.

When I was at Starship, resting wasn’t possible. From my debut until my contract renewal, I never once properly rested for 12 years. I asked, ‘Can’t you just give me three months off?’ I wanted to go abroad, maybe study music in the U.S., but they absolutely said no.

At the time, the CEO believed that if celebrities took more than two weeks off, they wouldn’t want to work anymore. But I’m not like that. Even when I rest, I think a lot about work.

— Soyou

Now she makes sure to carve out short periods of travel each year, making it clear that those breaks were hard-earned and long overdue.

I live abroad for about a month once a year. When things get tough while working, I stay motivated knowing I’ll get to travel soon. So when it’s time to work, I’m a racehorse.

— Soyou

Watch the full video here: