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Former idol exposes the bitter truth about K-pop 'Sugar Daddies'

Published: 03 May. 2026, 12:55

Former K-pop idol Jang Hyo-gyeong exposes ″Sugar Daddies″ in the K-pop industry in a video uploaded on YouTube on April 9. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jang Hyo-gyeong, a former member of K-pop girl group Ariaz, exposed the reality behind the K-pop industry's so-called "Sugar Daddies."

"It's kind of [a] sensitive topic, but I want to share what really goes on behind the scenes," Jang said in a video titled "As an Ex-Kpop Idol, Let's Talk About 'Sugar Daddies'" uploaded on her YouTube channel last month.

"I actually saw some pretty messed up situations back when I was an idol. And I'm not talking about the big agencies you guys know. They have massive internal investment for their idols."

"A member of another company," she continued, "was dating their CEO even with a huge age gap and somehow she always got the most parts and stood in the center even though her skills weren't that great. Rumors spread throughout the industry."

The relationship does not just stop with idols but also extends to "trainees and rookie actors too," according to Jang.

"One of my friends got cut from her trainee lineup," Jang said. "A few days later, this high up from her company asked her to meet up. When she got there, he ordered drinks and started acting really weird. She called her parents so she could leave. After that, she just gave up on becoming an idol."

K-pop girl group Ariaz [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Such situations easily come to lesser-known or new actors "because they know that we aren't making any money," according to the former idol. Jang also received an offer to be cast in a leading role in a film, but the first scene in the script included a shower scene involving nudity.

"I didn't learn acting just do something like that," she said. "I'm not an idol on stage anymore, but I'm really proud of my life right now."

Jang debuted in 2019 as a member of the girl group Ariaz, created by Rising Star Entertainment, a label under Star Empire Entertainment. The group effectively disbanded after halting activities in 2022. Jang currently works as a vocal coach.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN HYE-YEON [[email protected]]