Hanlim Arts High School have announced that K-pop trainees will receive "Mental Health" classes in an attempt to rejuvenate the K-pop industry. We have all the details on this prestigious K-pop prep academy!
So what is Hanlim Arts High School famous for?
Hanlim Arts High School is a prestigious performing arts school in Seoul, and it is said to have produced the highest number of K-pop artistes and South Korean celebrities to date.
This forward thinking school has recently announced that upcoming K-pop trainees will be able to receive mental health classes as part of the school's curriculum.
As it has been made publicly aware, many K-pop trainees in the past that are now globally famous have expressed their dissatisfaction with the amount of stress that K-pop trainee schools have, later leading to some of the stars breaking down, turning to drugs or alcohol, becoming cancelled or even sadly taking their own life. Hanlim Arts High School hopes to shift this negative thinking by implementing mental health classes for it's students in order to help create a safe space for students to learn how to take care of their mental wellbeing.
Let's check out a recent insider interview about what it is really like to attend this prestigious school:
The K-pop Machine
The K-Pop industry has helped brought forward the greatest performers, dancers, singers and groups to this day. The industry is a billion dollar powerhouse for South Korea and has boosted the nation’s connection to the World.
While K-Pop may have many great things, there are also a lot of dark sides within the K-Pop industry as a whole. For example the overworking crisis and the lack of mental health care in the K-Pop Industry, but this could soon slowly change with programs such as Hanlim Art's High School.
Korean Society
Korean society is known for it's brutal take on education, often cramming students into after school academies (Hagwons) or not allowing time for students to be kids and have time off to enjoy themselves with friends.
It can be said that Korean parents are passionate about their children's education, since following the colonial society over 50 years ago, there were not many educational opportunities for Koreans. So when opportunities became available they were forced to take them and excel in them. Education is considered a top priority for South Korean families, as success in education serves as a crucial ingredient for channeling one's social mobility to ultimately improve one's socioeconomic position in South Korean society.
So what measures have been put in place to counter mental health concerns?
In a recent interview with CNA Lifestyle Kim Jinny who is the public relations director at Hanlim Arts High school stated “There are psychological programs for young entertainers organised by institutions like the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Korean Entertainment Management Association".
“With support from these programs, we offer special lectures to our students and address issues that arise within agencies or with students affiliated with agencies. If a student feels uncomfortable or is struggling psychologically, the department heads continuously counsel them.”
Kim also added that if need be, the school would liaise with the idols’ respective agencies.
“We have a system in place that pays a lot of attention to this aspect.”
Our Thoughts
Although I strongly believe that these programs and measures which are in place for students I worry that they will be tarnished much later when the trainees start working for big companies such as SM Entertainment or HYBE.
I recently wrote about the BBC series "Dear Alice - Made in Korea the K-pop experience" where British aspiring artists together with SM Entertainment shown what the training experience looked like, and I have to say the amount of pressure that is put on the aspiring stars is shameful. I do however believe that what Hanlim Arts High School is setting out to achieve is a great model for the industry, and I hope that this forward thinking program will work wonders with aspiring K-pop trainees. Can it also help trainees who are not new to the industry? Has this program been implemented too late?
Aside from the glitz and glamour a previous trainee, has also spoken out on YouTube about her time at Hanlim Arts school, let's find out what she had to say:
Another forward thinking program will also be launched in the coastal city of Busan. It was previously announced that they are in the process of opening the first Korean K-pop school by 2028;
Let us know what you think of this new scheme in the comments below.
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