Seoul, South Korea — While K-pop oozes with talent, flair, and hard work, the spectacularly successful South Korean music industry also has a dark side — sometimes with tragic results. Ahead of BTS’s comeback concert on Saturday, AFP looks at the intense competition, the gruelling training, the tight control over stars’ lives, and the sometimes obsessive fan behaviour in the industry. 300 K-pop groups South Korean record labels launch dozens of new groups every year in the hope they will become the next BTS or Blackpink, but with some 300 outfits already out there, the big time is elusive. The […]... Keep on reading: What’s behind the BTS comeback? The dark side of K-pop