Increase in Psychological Counseling for Celebrities and Trainees... Half Are Teenagers

Over the Past 3 Years, 4,607 Sessions... More Than Four Times Per Person
"Mandatory Suicide Prevention Education Needed..."

Psychological counseling for celebrities and trainees is increasing. About half of them are teenagers.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to data from the Korea Creative Content Agency disclosed on the 25th by Kim Seung-su, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the People Power Party, 1,056 celebrities and trainees received psychological counseling over the past three years. The number of counseling sessions was 4,607, averaging more than four sessions per person. In 2021, only 176 celebrities and trainees (902 sessions) received counseling. However, the following year, the number increased more than threefold to 661 people (2,612 sessions).

The causes were diverse. Among the 353 celebrities and trainees who received counseling last year, seventy-six (21.5%) cited anxiety stemming from skills, an uncertain future, and others' perceptions. Interpersonal issues such as difficulties adapting within teams accounted for fifty-one people (14.4%), stress and emotional regulation each accounted for fifty people (14.2%), depressive factors such as lethargy were thirty people (8.5%), self-understanding was twenty-nine people (8.2%), and career concerns were twenty-eight people (7.9%).

In terms of age groups and other surveys, trainees accounted for 394 people (56%), and celebrities accounted for 235 people (33%). Among them, 49% (345 people) were teenagers. Those in their twenties numbered 236 (33.5%), those in their thirties were ninety-eight (13.9%), and those aged 40 and above were twenty-five (3.6%).

Assemblyman Kim said, "As K-pop's popularity rises globally, the number of trainees dreaming of becoming idol stars has greatly increased," adding, "Anxiety factors related to an uncertain future and fear of failure have also grown accordingly." He emphasized, "Since depression can easily occur due to exposure of private life, malicious comments, and debut anxiety, it is necessary to operate psychological counseling more meticulously," and stressed, "The government must take the lead to ensure that education combining suicide prevention and psychological counseling is made mandatory."

The Korea Creative Content Agency's Fair Coexistence Center has been providing psychological counseling for celebrities and trainees since 2011. Free counseling is supported up to 12 sessions per person.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.