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 (aka ISAC) will resume this year after a brief suspension due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stray Kids is one of the groups that will be heading to ISAC this year, with shooting scheduled from July 30 to August 1, and STAYs aren’t thrilled with the group’s involvement.
STAYs are upset about the new timetable, noting how full Stray Kids’ schedule is already. The brilliant eight-piece ensemble has just completed its worldwide MANIAC tour in the United States from June 28 to July 14, and they have a busy schedule ahead of them with little time to breathe. STAYs have taken to social media to criticize JYP Entertainment for being unfriendly to its members and overworking them to fatigue.
Stray Kids supporters use the hashtag “Let Stray Kids Rest” to protest JYP Entertainment’s demanding schedule for the group.
STAYs have seen that the group’s itinerary is full of no breaks and are therefore criticizing their participation in this year’s ISAC. Stray Kids returns to Japan for further performances on July 26 and 27, after a short hiatus. The NOEASY vocalists will only get two days of vacation due to ISAC recordings, which will take place from July 30 to August 1. After that, member Lee Know will return to MBC’s Music Core as MC on August 8, after which all members will perform at more events on August 10, 11, 14 and 20.
Because ISAC includes sports and physical activities, STAYs are concerned that members may further injure themselves as some of them are already in pain as a result of strenuous physical activity. Earlier, Stray Kids’ Hyunjin was injured when his right hand was bumped into the entrance of Oakland Arena. He performed at the group’s Oakland event, but the subsequent medical assessment found that while the injury is not serious, it is best to avoid rigorous actions, such as serious choreography.
JYP Entertainment later clarified that although Hyunjin would be in attendance for the duration of the worldwide tour, his attendance will be limited. Even members like Lee Know were exhausted and did everything they could to keep going. STAYS have even seen Felix’s back problem, Chan’s wrist injury, and most of the members on painkillers. Fans believe it was a bad move by JYP Entertainment to let the group participate in an athletic competition, especially since the group won’t have much time to relax after ISAC before performing again.
STAYs have also fired JYP Entertainment for overworking them to fatigue, especially at a time when K-pop agencies are trying to improve the mental health and well-being of idols. STAYs have taken it upon themselves to use the phrase “Let Stray Kids Rest” on Twitter and other social networking sites so that JYP Entertainment can provide members with enough rest before their next pivotal schedule. Fans compare the schedule to when the group joined ISAC after pre-recording for their “Levanter” promotions, which caused the members to fall asleep during the broadcast. STAYs hope JYP Entertainment would re-evaluate the group’s schedule and allow them some downtime.
I see more and more stuff filling Stray Kids’ agenda so I hope they all do fake stomach aches and high temperatures so they can skip participating in kpop sports day and sleep 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, Hongki from FT Island and Dahyun from TWICE. ISAC will be recorded from July 30 to August and will be broadcast during Chuseok in September.
The following artists have been confirmed to perform: NCT, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, IVE, NMIXX, EVERGLOW, Kep1er, Brave Girls, Weekly, ONEUS, VERIVERY, Billlie, DKZ, WOODZ (Cho Seung-youn), Ha Sung-woon , Kwon Eun-bi, Choi Ye-na, WEi, Xdinary Heroes, Kim Jae-hwan. In other news, the vocalists of God’s Menu and their following, STAYs, have won Billboard’s Fan Army Face-Off 2022 by beating Adele, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, SB19, BTS and SEVENTEEN and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
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