The number of those dreaming of becoming idols is increasing every year. It is estimated that, including those trainees at management agencies, about one million are aspiring to be entertainers. According to the status analysis of youth entertainers conducted by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, however, many young rights, the right to study, etc. This study, therefore, looked into the real situation of idol trainees by analyzing media texts. In doing so, the study examined the trainee training systems of different management agencies and the pre-debut process that young trainees aspiring to be entertainers go through, and gained an understanding of the psychological maladjustment they experience. Based on these, the study discusses the followings. First, as one axis of entertainer training systems of management agencies, personality development education and psychiatric counseling need to be systemized. Second, the existing training system needs to be changed. As it requires trainees to stay together, their relationships with their families and friends can be hurt. Third, trainees themselves should make an effort to find their own identities to have mental stability. Lastly, all the sectors in the entertainment industry need to pitch in to find different and realistic ways to support them, and the current broadcasting environment where competition is encouraged needs to be changed as well.
One of the characteristics of suicide phenomena in the Korean society is that it witnesses suicide committed by entertainers quite often. Some entertainers choose suicide as a way to resolve crises and conflicts, and those suffering from maladjustments, when seeing this, are highly likely to follow their suit, committing copycat suicide. For this reason, society needs to pay close attention to entertainers’ suicide. Many entertainers with depressive, negative sentiments relate themselves easily to other entertainers’ suicide in terms of both their jobs and feelings, which in turn make them choose suicide. This study explores what psychological effect entertainers’ suicide has on those entertainers suffering from psychological maladjustment. This is done through analyzing texts appearing on different kinds of media. At the same time, the study discusses possible ways to help them think less about suicide, at a preventive level.
This study is a follow-up study to the preceding studies that argue religions work as a moderator regarding the stress and the suicidal thoughts of celebrities. The preceding studies showed that whether celebrities have religions or not had some significance in that religions worked as a protective and moderating factor. Nevertheless, the Korean society has seen that a large number of celebrities who took their own lives were actually Christian. This means more profound exploration into the question why some religiously devoted celebrities chose to take their own live, from the perspective of pastoral counseling. Thus, this study looks at some negative emotions experienced by Christian celebrities and at how these emotions do not get enough protection from the Christian religion, and in turn, develop into psychological maladjustment and later suicidal acts by studying literature and analyzing cases. Through this, this study makes some suggestions as to how Christianity today and the pastoral ministry of church can provide celebrities with some practical help in terms of counseling, while admitting that religions play an important role in understanding the psychology of celebrities and in providing a preventive factor to their suicidal acts.