Some of the best K-Pop Mental Health Awareness Campaigns

Behind the glitz of K-pop are actual living breathing humans. Just people. Real people working as hard as they can to be amazing and successful. And real people actually face real mental health challenges. 

Kpop Idols often face so much pressure to maintain a flawless public image. And the K-Pop industry is known for its intense training regimens, demanding schedules, and high expectations.  Add to that constant scrutiny of the public eye, it takes a toll.

In recent years, many idols have shared their struggles, inspiring fans to prioritize their own well-being. K-pop groups have actively promoted mental health awareness, writing songs, and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. 

I just wanted to remind myself of some of the people and bands working on behalf of the emotional health of young people, so I wrote up some of my all time favorite examples here:

• BTS's "Love Yourself" Campaign: One of the most prominent mental health campaigns in K-Pop, BTS's "Love Yourself" campaign focused on self-love, self-acceptance, and overcoming societal pressures. The campaign included a series of music videos, speeches, and merchandise that encouraged fans to prioritize their own well-being. 

Songs like "Serendipity," "Epiphany," and "Love Myself" are like anthems for self-discovery.

RM, the leader, has been a major voice on mental health. In his most historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, RM delivered a powerful message about speaking your truth.  RM encouraged young people to embrace their unique qualities and not be afraid to speak their minds. He said that by loving ourselves, we can become more confident, compassionate, and hopeful. 

BTS were total pioneers for K-pop, putting mental health in the spotlight. They really took advantage of their platform to help fans  “get beyond the scene” and know that it's okay to not be perfect, to be the real you, to accept your real self and to take care of your mental health.  

• Stray Kids' leader, Bang Chan created a super chill space for both the members and fans to talk about mental health. Through his weekly live streams, "Chan's Room," he was always there with words of encouragement and stories about overcoming challenges. He's like that friend who's always got your back.

He was constantly reinforcing the importance of self-care. It was super relatable and didn’t make things feel too heavy or theoretical.  The programming trailed off in 2023.  

But there’s always Stray Kids' "SKZ-Talk" Series which features the members frequently discussing various mental health topics, such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. They also try to create a safe space for fans to talk about their own experiences.

• TXT's "MOA Diary" Series: TXT's "MOA Diary" series featured the members sharing their personal experiences with mental health and offering words of encouragement to fans to open conversations about mental health and reduce stigma.

  
  

• NCT's "NCTzen for Life" Campaign: NCT's "NCTzen for Life" campaign emphasized the importance of mental health and self-care for fans. Loaded with messages of positivity, self-love, and seeking help when needed.

  
  

• ATEEZ's "ATEEZ's Wonderland" Campaign: ATEEZ's "ATEEZ's Wonderland" campaign focused on promoting mental health and self-care through music and storytelling. Good encouragement to find your own "wonderland" and prioritize well-being.

  
  

• Taeyeon, the queen of Girls' Generation, has been super open about dealing with depression and how seeking professional help for therapy and medication helped so much.  Her honesty is inspiring. She’s is so good at making everyone remember that all people face challenges and it’s ok to ask for help when you need it. 

  
  

• Singer-songwriter IU (Lee Ji-eun), has written songs that touch on mental health issues. The song Palette is about self-acceptance as you go through changes and her song Eight, (co-written and produced with BTS’ Suga) touches on anxiety.   IU's been real about her struggles. She's talked openly about anxiety and eating disorders, and how she works through them. She's all about managing stress and reminding people to ask for help when they need it. I love how she’s made it normal to talk about emotional well-being.  

I'm so inspired by all the amazing work K-Pop groups are doing to keep the conversation about mental health going strong. From sharing personal stories to launching campaigns, they're really making a difference. It's great to see them breaking down the perfect image and reminding us that we're all just humans doing our best. Hopefully, we'll see even more as the industry continues to grow and evolve.