Cover K-pop megastars BTS were assembled on the basis of talent by music producer Bang Si-Hyuk, with no whiff of nepotism (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
K-pop megastars BTS were assembled on the basis of talent by music producer Bang Si-Hyuk, with no whiff of nepotism (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
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While nepo babies have become very common in show business, South Korea's talent-scouting system has shielded its entertainment industry from familial favouritism
There’s no family business quite like show business. The rise of celebrity offspring following in their parents’ footsteps is nothing new.
Take the Barrymores, for instance—Maurice Barrymore, the family patriarch, began acting in the late 1800s, and his legacy now spans four generations. Hollywood has no shortage of dynastic lineages, from the Coppolas and Hustons to the Baldwins. The phenomenon is just as prevalent beyond the West.
Yet in recent years, the discussion around industry legacies has taken a sharp turn. Enter the term “nepo baby”—a label that has become increasingly pejorative, highlighting the industry’s tendency to favour the children of insiders over fresh, undiscovered talent. Despite criticism, the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
South Korea, however, presents a fascinating exception. While a few famous names have benefited from family connections, the country’s entertainment industry has largely resisted the “nepo baby” wave, thriving instead on a culture that prioritises talent, training and meritocracy over lineage.
A culture of meritocracy
Above No nepotism here. Jennie endured six years of training before debuting with Blackpink. As a trainee, she had to perform group and solo dance and song numbers monthly to YG Entertainment honchos who would assess her progress
South Korea’s entertainment industry is a cultural hegemony. Unlike Hollywood’s more decentralised system, where independent casting directors and producers make hiring decisions, Korean agencies (in music, that’s the big four: HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment) scout, train, debut and manage their artists under one roof.
See more: Who are the biggest players in the K-pop industry?
These agencies conduct open auditions, often on a global scale, seeking raw talent. For example, Big Hit Music, the label behind BTS and TXT, hosts worldwide auditions to find potential stars based on talent rather than connections. These trainees undergo years of gruelling preparation, learning to sing, dance, act, and cultivate a stage presence under the agency’s strict guidance. And only when they go through all the hoops can they be considered to debut.
The path is similar to hopeful actors. While some may be born into the industry, most are discovered through rigorous auditions or scouted from prestigious theatre programs. So, even if an actor has famous parents, they must prove their mettle via the stringent training regimen.
Hard work over lineage
Above The South Korean training method is so well-known that, in 2023, JYP Entertainment and Republic Records aired A2K, an reality competition show that aimed to create an American girl group via the rigorous K-pop training system
The culture values hard work and discipline, reinforcing the belief that success must be earned, not inherited. Unlike Hollywood, where second-generation stars are often groomed for the limelight from birth, South Korea’s stars are expected to endure intense training and public scrutiny before earning their place.
This extends beyond the entertainment industry. Koreans generally frown upon favouritism and family connections as a means to success. Any whiff of privilege can lead to public backlash, damaging an entertainer’s career before it even begins. In a society that values effort and perseverance, an easy rise to fame is often seen as undeserved.
See more: From K-pop failure to signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation: How Jay Park found success in K-hip-hop
Nepotism does exist in Korean entertainment
While nepotism is not entirely absent, it is much less pronounced than in Western or Southeast Asian entertainment circles. Singer and entertainer Sunny of K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation is the niece of SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man. Sunny however still trained for years and was subject to the same rigorous standards as her bandmates. Lee Yu-bi and Lee Da-in, both daughters of veteran actress Kyeon Mi-ri, pursued acting careers. While their mother’s influence likely opened doors, they had to work to establish themselves.
More controversial is the case of screenwriter Im Sung-han, known to be a K-drama hitmaker. Her reputation took a hit when after she abruptly killed off 13 characters in Princess Aurora (2013), and it was discovered that actress Baek Ok-dam, whose character Da-ji had a notably expanded role later in the series, was her niece.
Meritocracy vs nepotism
Other countries have embraced having nepo babies as a defining feature of show business. Hollywood’s nepotism culture has come under heightened scrutiny in recent years, largely due to a new wave of actors with superstar parents—think Dakota Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Margaret Qualley, and Maya Hawke. The term “nepo baby” first gained traction in discussions surrounding Maude Apatow, daughter of filmmaker Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann, before evolving into a broader critique of industry privilege.
See also: 5 breakout Hollywood actors following their famous dad’s footsteps
In the Philippines, showbiz dynasties dominate entertainment, with families like the Padillas, Gutierrezes and Eigenmanns producing generations of actors. The system operates on legacy, where surnames carry significant weight in securing roles. Likewise, nepotism is so ingrained in Bollywood, where children of major stars, such as Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, often debut in films backed by family or industry insiders. It is so rampant however, that it has led to public criticism and debates about industry gatekeeping.
The South Korean entertainment industry is far from perfect. But when it comes to nepo babies, its merit-based approach has helped maintain its quality. Without the crutch of nepotism, it ensures that only the most talented and hardworking individuals rise to the top. The system may be brutal, but it has produced world-class talent who have earned their fame through sheer dedication.
