GWSN Japanese Member Miya Gets Real About What It’s Like Working in the K-Pop Industry: ‘We Were in a Prison’

GWSN Japanese member Miya gets real about what it's like working in the K-pop industry in an interview on May 22.

From liking the business to prison to undergoing a strict diet, she also experienced having limited communication with her family while training and promoting in Korea.

Miya debuted with GWSN in September 2018. Since then, she has encountered several struggles in the business.

'We Were in a Prison'

In an interview with Japan's Asahi Shimbun via AllKpop, the 30-year-old couldn't help but liken their time in the K-pop industry like they "were in a prison" while talking on the phone with her co-member.

"I started practicing right after I came back from school, and then we each started private lessons. So, when everyone was finished, it was completely dark outside," she said.

The Strict Diet

The group's lead rapper also talked about how strict the diet she was following at the time, with a limit on her food intake that made her feel crazy.

"Also, every time I went to practice, I weighed myself in front of my manager," she continued. "I had to report my diet, like 'I'll eat bananas and boiled eggs' or 'I'll only eat one apple.' I felt like I was going crazy."

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She also revealed that the staff was served food during music video shoots but not them. So, they would be left stealing for tteokbokki and chicken to have something to eat.

"We'd steal tteokbokki and chicken and eat them secretly. As a result, the teamwork between the members got tight," she confessed.

"Usually, at that age, we'd be talking about boys, but we always talked about food," the vocalist added. "The only fun was sneaking out of the dorm and going to the convenience store."

Former Agency Took Everything Away from Miya

Aside from monitoring their diet and training, Miya added that the agency had also taken her money, free time, and cell phone.

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This affected her communication with her family, and she was "barely able" to talk to them using the manager's phone.

The GWSN Problems

After debuting in 2018, GWSN transferred from Kiwi Media Group to The Wave Music in 2021 due to financial problems.

They released their fifth mini album, The Other Side of the Moon, in May of the same year but have remained inactive.

Come January 2023, the GWSN members filed a lawsuit against the agency to terminate their contract. Fortunately, they won the case in the first trial.

Miya revealed that the agency neglected her visa work, paid visa-related fines, and even left her with an illegal alien record.

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"I don't know what's going on inside the company. I don't feel like blaming them because it's a business thing," she explained.

The dancer wants to try acting, modeling, and auditioning for shows if given a chance.

"I think it'd be a shame if someone like me disappears from the K-pop scene," she commented.

For more GWSN and Miya news, stay tuned to EpicStream!