4 Times "Namib" Showed Us The Dark Side Of The K-Pop Industry In Episodes 9-10

Since the premiere episode, “Namib” has been criticizing the dark side of the K-pop industry — the truth behind the glam and glitz. Thankfully, as the story continues, the show runners are not afraid to dive deeper into the horrors this entertainment industry forces upon idols.

From Yoo Jin Woo (Ryeoun) being on the brink of losing his career due to false bullying rumors, to TA Entertainment saving face at the cost of their trainee, here are four times “Namib” showed the dark side of the K-pop industry.

Warning: spoilers for episodes 9-10 ahead!

Soo Hyun selling Yoo Jin Woo

Soo Hyun (Go Hyun Jung) did the most obvious yet unthinkable act simultaneously: selling Yoo Jin Woo. While in the universe of “Namib,” and in Yoo Jin Woo’s case, Soo Hyun’s seemingly evil act does have a justifiable reason behind it — securing her son Shim Jin Woo’s future — in the real world of K-pop, selling idols’ contracts is not an unknown practice. More often than not, this trade is done solely for monetary gain and lacks any emotional considerations. From a business perspective, selling the exclusive contract of an artist for profit might make sense, but ethically, it raises questions.

In the case of Yoo Jin Woo, it is clear how one simple signature throws him out of his comfort zone and places him in an environment where he is not only uncomfortable but also seen as a mere object. At first, life at TA Entertainment does not seem bad, but soon he is informed that he will debut in a boy group with members whose names he does not even know. One of these members is the very person who blackmailed him during his time at “Star Rise.”

If Yoo Jin Woo were still under Soo Hyun, he might have been able to tell her about the situation. However, aware of his tenuous and weak relationship with TA Entertainment and burdened by the money the company paid for him, he cannot dare to bring up his past.

Ruining lives for clicks

In previous episodes, “Namib” has shed light on the practice of publishing clickbait articles for profit, regardless of the implications for the individuals involved. In the latest episodes, viewers got an even deeper look at the entire process.

In one scene, a reporter from Xpatch, a fictional news outlet, receives a tip that one of the three trainees from Pandora Entertainment, Ha Na (Yuju), Ji Yeong (Kim Ji Woo), and Yoo Jin Woo, received preferential treatment from the “Star Rise” producer. The reporter calls Soo Hyun, asking if this is true. Soo Hyun denies Yoo Jin Woo’s and Ji Yeong’s involvement and says she does not know anything about Ha Na in the matter. But the reporter threatens to run the story on all three of them unless Soo Hyun suggests that Ha Na might have been the one who received preferential treatment, essentially blackmailing her for a quote to spare Yoo Jin Woo’s and Ji Yeong’s careers.

Later, Soo Hyun is contacted by Pandora Entertainment’s CEO, who promises her a far more entertaining story in exchange for deleting the articles against Ha Na. The story in question involves clips of Yoo Jin Woo at the club where he used to work. However, the CEO twists the narrative to make it look like Yoo Jin Woo is a frequent nightclub-goer, which is considered immoral, especially for teenagers.

And just like that, in the pursuit of clicks and an entertaining story, Xpatch ruins Yoo Jin Woo’s public image and career at TA Entertainment.

The horrors of false bullying accusations

While K-drama watchers might not be in the loop, K-pop fans know how career-damaging bullying accusations can be for idols. While no one can deny the importance of removing bullies from positions of influence, netizens often deliver their verdicts before cases even open and idols have the chance to present evidence in their defense. There are idols who have lost their careers due to false bullying allegations, and even after being proven innocent, they could not return to their normal life.

Something similar is shown in “Namib” episode 10, when, after the nightclub rumor article against Yoo Jin Woo is published, Shim Jin Woo’s school bully comments under the post, accusing Yoo Jin Woo of being a bully. Without further proof, netizens and reporters run with this misinformation as fact.

TA Entertainment trying to save face

The way TA Entertainment handles Yoo Jin Woo’s bullying rumors is reminiscent of how some entertainment agencies operate in real life. Instead of making a statement to protect their innocent trainee from unwarranted public scrutiny, the company waits for days to come up with a plan to clear its own name.

Rather than helping Yoo Jin Woo collect proof to counter the rumors or investigating the claims, the company simply calls a press conference and orders Yoo Jin Woo to accept the blame, claiming he committed all those horrible acts before joining TA Entertainment. This way, the company avoids facing public outrage, but at the cost of Yoo Jin Woo’s reputation.

While the majority of the recent episodes were exceptionally dark, finally, we got to see Soo Hyun standing up for Yoo Jin Woo as if he were her own son. The mother-by-choice dynamic everyone was anticipating is here!

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Hello, Soompiers! What are your predictions for the “Namib” finale? Let us know in the comments section below!

Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.

Currently watching: “Namib,” “Love Scout,” “Motel California,” and “Doom At Your Service.”
Looking forward to: “Reborn” and “Weak Hero Class 2.”