Kids of K-pop: Sacrificing their childhood for stardom

Wannabe: K-pop star-in-the-making Kim Si-yoon (wearing cap) takes part in a dance class at DEF Dance Skool in Seoul, where thousands of kids like her compete to be the next Psy.

For thousands of children in South Korea, childhood is not about adoring and emulating K-pop idols – instead it’s about training to become one.

Nine-year-old Kim Si-yoon has no time to throw tantrums. She wakes up at half-past seven for school, followed by hours of voice training, dance lessons and cram school before crashing into bed at midnight. It may seem relentless but this is the life of a wannabe K-pop star.