Working in the K-pop industry may sound glamorous, but according to Korean-American YouTuber Joycie, the reality can be far from ideal. Having worked closely with major artists like EXO, SHINee, and others, she recently revealed her best and worst experiences with K-pop idols — offering a rare, unfiltered look into how some stars treat their staff off camera.
While she praised several groups for being respectful and easy to work with, Joycie didn’t hold back about the five most unpleasant idols she encountered — those who made the job emotionally draining and unnecessarily difficult. Although she didn’t reveal their names, her stories speak volumes.
The Idol Who Never Greeted Staff
As a former fan of Group B, Joycie was excited to meet them during her work. But one member shattered that excitement by completely ignoring her polite greetings — even when she bowed deeply in the traditional 90-degree Korean style.
“He just turned his head and walked the other way.”
Despite his group’s reputation for being polite and professional, this member never once acknowledged her, even after multiple interactions. Joycie emphasized that greeting staff is the bare minimum in K-pop — making his rudeness especially hard to ignore.
The Idol Who Exploded Over Food
Another Group B member shocked Joycie during a simple food delivery. After the manager kindly asked what the idol wanted to eat, the star screamed at him, cursed him out, and kicked him out of the room.
“Fck you. Fck you for bothering me. Get out of my sight.”
What made the situation more bizarre was that the idol’s group was known for its “sweet and innocent” image, creating a disturbing disconnect between their public persona and private behavior.
The Diva Who Refused a Chair
When accompanying a male idol — dubbed Mr. L — to a scheduled interview, Joycie was stunned by his next move. After walking into the room, Mr. L refused to sit in the designated chair and demanded a new one.
“Is that my chair? I can’t sit on that chair. Change it.”
The change required photographing multiple chairs, getting approvals, and waiting for the manager’s OK — all so he could sit for less than 10 minutes. The unnecessary drama made a simple task last three times longer than needed.
The Idol Who Hated Their Suite
At a major K-pop event where multiple artists stayed in the same hotel, one member of Group G caused a headache for the staff all because the light switch was too far from the bed in their luxury suite.
“If all the rooms have light switches that far away, then the hotel should be changed.”
This demand nearly forced the team to relocate the artist and their entire entourage to a different hotel — over something many would find trivial. Joycie noted that while others adapted easily, this idol expected perfection in everything.
The Rule-Breakers Who Smoked Everywhere
Joycie revealed that multiple idols ignored no-smoking policies in hotels and venues overseas. Despite clear warnings and designated smoking areas, they left cigarette butts in toilets and covered up the smell with Febreze.
“Even if you go up to them and say, ‘You cannot smoke here,’ they will do it.”
She said that while many artists respected the rules, there were always a few who did whatever they wanted, showing little regard for staff, property, or hosts.
While these stories don’t name names, they reveal an uncomfortable truth: not all idols live up to their image, and some treat behind-the-scenes staff with shocking disregard. As K-pop continues to grow globally, Joycie’s insights serve as a reminder that fame doesn’t always mean professionalism — and that true character shows when the cameras are off.
