EVERGLOW’s Yiren Raises Serious Concerns About Artist Compensation
On March 18, 2025, Yiren, a member of K-pop group EVERGLOW, took to her Bubble account to share shocking news regarding the financial treatment of her group by Yuehua Entertainment. As the group gears up for their much-anticipated Pulse & Heart concert in Tokyo on March 21 and 22, Yiren’s revelations come at a poignant time—marking the sixth anniversary of EVERGLOW’s debut.
During her candid message, Yiren expressed her profound passion for performing and touring with her fellow members. However, she lamented that their lack of income dramatically overshadows their joy in these pursuits. While she refrained from explicitly naming Yuehua Entertainment, her comments indicate a broader issue concerning how K-pop idols are often compensated.
Yiren’s Statement on Financial Struggles
Here’s an excerpt from Yiren’s message, translated by Koreaboo:
“I love the stage very much, but in a sense, I have zero income. But I don’t want to give up this career? In reality, we haven’t been settled yet, not once. So, the tour is really what we want to show our fans, and we are working hard to prepare.”
Yiren further elaborated:
“But, I’m sorry that there are no new songs and performance to show everyone, hahahaha…From debut until now, I’m a worker with 0 salary, hahahahahaha. It’s okay, at least I can still see forever and have the chance to stand on the stage. It’s fine.”
Fan Reactions and Industry Backlash
The reaction from fans was swift and intense. Many expressed their outrage over the news, highlighting the injustice of such treatment, especially after six years of service in the industry. Some sentiments shared among fans include:
“Yuehua Entertainment needs to be held accountable for exploiting their artists like this.”
“All that fame, but not a dime? Industry exploitation at its finest,”a user on X commented.
Additional comments from netizens reflected a shared sense of disillusionment:
“EVERGLOW was active for quite a while and was the most popular group in the company, so to not pay them is shocking,”noted another fan.
“How is this even allowed? They have been WORKING for 6 years and have not seen anything back. We need more idols speaking out against companies and advocating for change,”a user asserted.
Others chimed in with similar frustrations, emphasizing the disparity between the company’s wealth and their treatment of artists:
“Yuehua is literally one of the richest companies in China, how could they not pay these girls???? This is so irritating,”
“They served every comeback and still didn’t get paid?? Burn that goddamn company,”lamented another user.
All You Need to Know About EVERGLOW
EVERGLOW, a talented K-pop girl group under Yuehua Entertainment, debuted in March 2019. Comprising members E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha, and Yiren, the group quickly gained a reputation for their exceptional performance quality, earning them the title of ‘monster rookies.’
Their subsequent releases, including hits like “Adios,””Dun Dun,”and “La Di Da,”have not only topped charts but also won accolades, with “La Di Da”being recognized as the best K-pop song of 2020 by Billboard. Their latest single album, “Zombie,”released in June 2024, achieved notable success and solidified their standing in the industry.
Currently, they are on their Pulse & Heart tour, which kicked off in September 2024 and includes 12 stops across the United States and South America, with recent additions of performances in Japan.
As the K-pop industry continues to evolve, Yiren’s bold statements underscore the critical conversations about fair treatment and compensation for artists, igniting discussions that could shape the future of K-pop.