K-pop was now a worldwide sensation. In 2005, the whole Korean music marketwas ranked 29th...

K-pop was now a worldwide sensation. In 2005, the whole Korean music market
was ranked 29th in the world. By 2016, it was ranked eighth. That incredible success
also put a worldwide spotlight on the long-standing criticisms
of the industry, that entertainment companies push
their young recruits into long contracts, controlling every aspect of their careers. The industry still has a way to go, but some criticisms have been met
with reform. In 2009,
the Korean Fair Trade Commission began regulating agency contracts, removing terms they deemed
excessively long or restrictive. Of course there are still problems
in the relationship between artists and agencies,
with how contracts are managed