Where Is He Now? The “Prince” Who Exposed K-Pop’s Dark Side
K-Pop music brings joy to millions of people around the world, and it has also made dreams come true for many idols. Unfortunately, there are more than a few harrowing stories about K-Pop’s “dark side,” and much of the information about the industry’s inner workings comes from the idols themselves.
One of the idols who brought K-Pop’s dark side to light debuted in a third-generation boy group. JJCC was formed by Jackie Chan Group Korea, a South Korean entertainment company founded by action star Jackie Chan. JJCC debuted in 2014, but one of its members, Prince Mak (now known as Henry Prince Mak) would stop promoting with JJCC in Korea three years later.
On an episode of SBS PopAsia‘s The Prince Mak Hour, the Australian-Chinese star shared his experience with elusive “slave contracts,” weight management, appearances, manners, work hours, and what it was like to be a foreigner working in the K-Pop industry.
You could be training for 10 years, and if you debut with a 10 year contract, that’s 20 years of your life gone.
— Henry Prince Mak
Henry explained how contracts worked at the time, regarding payment between artists and their company. In the past, companies claimed as much as 90% of their artists’ income and split the remaining profits among the group’s members. Henry also claimed that idols were expected to work 20 hours a day, leaving only 3-4 for sleep each night.
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It’s no secret that K-Pop beauty standards are high, but Henry wasn’t shy about sharing specifics about how the focus on appearance affects idols’ physical and mental health. He also confirmed that some idols do get plastic surgery to better fit the mold.
When JJCC was training, there was another girl group called LABOUM and they were trainees still back then. Their weight was very controlled and they would get nervous every single time that they had to step on a scale in front of their manager or other staff.
— Henry Prince Mak
As for working as a foreigner in K-Pop, Henry said he experienced difficulties due to language barriers. “[The K-Pop] industry, it’s not very foreign friendly,” he said. “They won’t forgive you for not speaking very good Korean.”
Where is this “Prince” of K-Pop now? Though Henry began pursuing solo activities in China, he still considered himself a member of the group. On May 6, 2024, JJCC announced their official disbandment, ten years after their debut.
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Now, Henry is working as an actor. He debuted in the 2018 film Operation Red Sea, and his latest film is The Captives (2024), a horror-science fiction movie.
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On Instagram, Henry regularly promotes his acting work, but he also shares fond memories from his days with JJCC.
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