Flood of idol-turned-actors reduce opportunities for rookie actors

Agencies housing rookie actors are heaving a big sigh over how idols are taking over every aspect of the entertainment industry.

These days, dramas and movies have been favoring idols-turned-actors over rookie actors, and consequently, there have been less and less opportunities for them to gain experience, leaving many out of work.

Take, for example, After School’s UEE and her starring role in KBS‘s ‘Ojakgyo Brothers‘, or B2ST‘sKikwang on MBC‘s ‘I’m a Flower, Too‘. Cable channels are also following suit, with T-ara‘sEunjung in JTBC‘s ‘Queen Insoo‘ and Big Bang‘s Daesung in MBN‘s ‘What’s Up‘.

More recently, ‘Dream High 2‘ seems to host an all-idol cast, with 2AM‘s Jinwoon, SISTAR‘sHyorin, and T-ara‘s Jiyeon in the main line-up.

A broadcasting representative commented, “Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to favor a popular idol over a rookie actor without a name. Idol fanbases do a lot for viewer ratings, and we’re able to show off their singing and dancing specialties in the drama itself.”

Still, rookie actors and certain agency staff members think differently.

A different representative from an entertainment label stated, “Over the past few years, there’s been a severe polarization within the entertainment industry. Even actors that dream of pursuing a career in acting seek to join music entertainment labels first, not labels specializing in acting.”

He continued, “There are so many talented idol group members lately. Some idol-turned-actors show competent acting skills, but the exact opposite remains true as well, in that there are just as many who have weak acting skills. The influence idols have on viewer ratings aren’t as high as one would think.”

Since it’s difficult to cut back on the number of idol castings, labels are instead asking for more opportunities for their rookie actors.

Another representative added, “Broadcast networks need to expand on areas for rookie actors to work in, such as creating more one-act dramas. Basically, it’s important that they care more about the quality of the product than viewer ratings.”