Former Child Actors Expose Past Abuse and Corruption

Violence on the Set

Directors used physical violence against young performers during filming. Seo Jae Kyung stated that mistakes led to severe beatings. He said, 'When we made mistakes, we weren't just lightly tapped—we were hit so hard we sometimes bled.'

Production staff used physical pain to force emotional reactions from children. Kang Rae Yeon stated that crews hit them to force real tears for sad scenes. This treatment created a harsh environment for the young workers.

Low Pay and Hours

The industry regulated child actor salaries through a strict ranking system. Grades ranged from 1 to 5 based entirely on popularity. Kang Rae Yeon said, 'The highest payment was ₩250,000 KRW per episode for dramas.'

Children worked through consecutive day and night cycles without sleep limits. Crews regularly ran overnight shoots until sunrise. Parents of the child actors stayed awake to manage their exhausted children.

Bribes and Systemic Debt

Industry managers routinely demanded financial favors and gifts from families. Producers accepted under-the-table payments to alter the promotional grade of young actors. Heo Jeong Min said, 'They took a lot of bribes from mothers promising to raise grades.'

The financial extortion left some former stars with nothing. Seo Jae Kyung stated that managers took gifts, drinks, and food regularly. He noted that the system only left him with deep debt.

Will the entertainment industry implement stricter laws to monitor internet broadcasts and media companies? Former child actors continue to speak out about historical crimes. Can modern unions protect children from hidden set abuse?