Stray Kids’ agency, JYP Entertainment, is the latest in a long line of idol agencies that have caught the attention of fans. The Idol Star Athletic Championship (also known as ISAC) is set to resume this year after being briefly suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stray Kids is one of the groups that will be attending this year’s ISAC, and is scheduled to film from July 30th to August 1st, and the STAYs are not thrilled about the group’s participation.
The STAYs are upset with the new schedule, noting how busy the Stray Kids already are. The brilliant eight-piece ensemble has just finished their MANIAC Global Tour in the United States from June 28th to July 14th, and they have a busy schedule ahead of them with little time to breathe. STAY members took to social media to criticize JYP Entertainment for being unkind to their members and overworking them to the point of exhaustion.
Stray Kids’ supporters are using the hashtag “Let Stray Kids Rest” to protest JYP Entertainment’s demanding schedule for the group.
STAYs have seen the group’s itinerary packed with no breaks and are therefore critical of their participation in this year’s ISAC. Stray Kids will return to Japan for further performances on July 26th and 27th, after a short break. The NOEASY singers will only get two days off due to the ISAC taping that will take place from July 30th to August 1st. After that, member Lee Know will return to MBC’s Music Core as an MC on August 8th, after which all members will perform at more events on August 10th, 11th, 14th, and 20th.
Because ISAC includes sports and physical activities, STAYs are concerned that members may injure themselves further, as some of them already have pain as a result of heavy physical activity. Previously, Stray Kids’ Hyunjin was injured when his right fist hit the entrance of the Oakland Arena. He performed at a group event in Oakland, but a subsequent medical evaluation indicated that while the injury was not serious, it was best to avoid rigorous activities, such as heavy choreography.
JYP Entertainment later clarified that although Hyunjin will be present for the duration of the global tour, his participation will be limited. Even members like Lee Know were exhausted and doing whatever they could to keep going. The STAYs even noticed Felix’s back problem, Chan’s wrist injury, and most of the members using tapes to relieve the pain. Fans feel that allowing the group to compete in the athletic competition was a bad move on JYP Entertainment’s part, especially since the group won’t have much time to relax after ISAC before performing again.
STAYs were also dismissed by JYP Entertainment for being overworked to the point of exhaustion, especially at a time when K-pop agencies are trying to improve idols’ mental health and well-being. STAYs took on the trending phrase “Let Stray Kids Rest” on Twitter and other social networks to allow JYP Entertainment to ensure the members have enough rest before their next crucial schedule. Fans are comparing the schedule to when the group participated in ISAC after pre-recording for their “Levanter” promotions, causing the members to fall asleep during the broadcast. STAYs hope that JYP Entertainment will re-evaluate the group’s schedule and allow them some breaks.
I see more and more things filling Stray Kids’ schedule, so I hope everyone is faking stomachaches and high temperatures so they can skip participating in kpop sports day and sleep in like we all did at least once in our school years.
— ☁︎ (@stayindust) July 21, 2022
After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 Idol Star Athletics Championship returns.
The 2022 Idol Star Athletics Championship, or ISAC for short, is expected to return this Chuseok holiday after a two-year hiatus. The official hosts of the special are Jun Hyun-moo, FT Island’s Hongki, and TWICE’s Dahyun. ISAC will be filmed from July 30 to August and will air during Chuseok in September.
The following artists are confirmed to perform: NCT, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, IVE, NMIXX, EVERGLOW, Kep1er, Brave Girls, Weeekly, ONEUS, VERIVERY, Billie, DKZ, WOODZ (Cho Seung-youn), Ha Sung-woon, Kwon Eun- bi, Choi Ye-na, WEi, Xdinary Heroes, Kim Jae-hwan. In other news, vocalists God’s Menu and their followers, STAYs, won Billboard’s Fan Army Face-Off 2022, beating out Adele, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, SB19, BTS and SEVENTEEN, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education