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 (also known as ISAC) is set to resume this year after being suspended briefly due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stray Kids is one of the groups scheduled to attend this year’s ISAC, with filming scheduled from July 30th to August 1st, and STAYs are not thrilled with the group’s involvement.
STAYs are upset with the new timetable, noting up how packed Stray Kids’ schedule is already. The brilliant eight-member ensemble just completed its MANIAC global tour in the United States from June 28th to July 14th, and they have a busy agenda ahead of them with little time to breathe. STAYs have turned to social media to criticize JYP Entertainment for being unkind to its members and overworking them to fatigue.
Stray Kids supporters are using 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 crammed with no breaks and are hence criticizing their participation in this year’s ISAC. Stray Kids will return to Japan for further performances on July 26th and 27th, after a short hiatus. The NOEASY vocalists will only get a two-day vacation due to ISAC filming, which will take place from July 30th to August 1st. Following that, member Lee Know will return to MBC’s Music Core as an MC on August 8th, after which all members will perform at more events on August 10th, 11th, 14th, and 20th.
Because ISAC incorporates 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 hard physical activity. Previously, Hyunjin of Stray Kids was injured when his right hand was bumped against the entrance at Oakland Arena. He performed at the group’s Oakland event, but subsequent medical assessment found that, although the injury is not serious, it is best to avoid rigorous actions, such as severe choreography.
JYP Entertainment later clarified that, although Hyunjin would be present for the duration of the global tour, his participation will be limited. Even members like Lee Know were exhausted and were doing all they could to stay going. STAYs have even spotted Felix’s back issue, Chan’s wrist injury, and most members using pain management tapes. Fans feel that allowing the group to compete in an athletic competition was a poor move on JYP Entertainment’s side, particularly because the group won’t have much time to relax after ISAC before performing again.
STAYs have also dismissed JYP Entertainment for overworking them to weariness, particularly at a time when K-pop agencies are attempting to improve idols’ mental health and well-being. STAYs have taken it upon themselves to trend the phrase “Let Stray Kids Rest” on Twitter and other social networking sites in order to allow JYP Entertainment to provide the members enough rest before their next crucial schedule. Fans are comparing the schedule to when the group participated in ISAC following pre-recording for their “Levanter” promotions, which caused the members to fall asleep during the broadcast. STAYs are hoping that JYP Entertainment would reevaluate the group’s schedule and allow them some downtime.
Seeing more and more things filling up Stray Kids’ schedule, so I hope they all fake tummy aches and high temperatures so they can skip out on 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 will return.
The 2022 Idol Star Athletics Championship, or ISAC for short, is expected to return this Chuseok holiday following a two-year hiatus. The special’s official hosts are Jun Hyun-moo, Hongki from F.T. Island, and Dahyun from TWICE. ISAC will be shot 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, Weeekly, 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 God’s Menu vocalists and their following, STAYs, have won Billboard’s Fan Army Face-Off 2022, defeating Adele, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, SB19, BTS and SEVENTEEN, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
