Singer WOODZ has hit a major snag right in the middle of the miracle success of ‘Drowning’.
Criticism is pouring in after reports surfaced that unpaid staff were recruited from fans during WOODZ’s recent European tour. The announcement stated, “Those working as volunteers on the day of the stay will be randomly assigned tasks such as maintaining audience order, operating the medical booth, and acting as show runners.”
Essentially, the structure attempted to fill operational roles using the fandom. The compensation was listed as “unpaid, meals provided, and ability to watch the performance.” While the rewards for volunteering were meager, the requirements were strict: fluency in Korean, German, and English, preference for those with K-pop event experience, and knowledge of lighting and sound. Critics argue that the fans’ willingness to help their favorite artist was exploited as free labor.
EDAM Entertainment issued a formal statement, saying, “We are sorry for not reviewing this sufficiently in advance,” and added, “We will coordinate with local partners to more closely examine future operations.” However, the explanation that they failed to check the basic manpower structure for an official overseas tour under WOODZ’s name only fueled the public’s anger.
While using local volunteers for overseas shows isn’t uncommon, this situation is difficult to defend due to the target and the method. A fandom isn’t just a source of labor; they are the core support system that consumes music and albums, buys tickets, and creates online buzz. Proposing an unpaid labor structure to these fans inevitably led to heavy criticism.
Some are defending WOODZ, claiming it was an issue with the local agency and that he was unaware. Unfortunately, ignorance and incompetence can also be seen as faults. Since this was an official overseas tour in WOODZ’s name, the on-site operation and manpower management fall under the responsibility of the agency and the artist. A performance isn’t completed by the artist on stage alone; the operational methods and on-site systems are all linked to the artist’s image. If he truly didn’t know, it is still a failure in management.
What’s even more disappointing is the timing. WOODZ’s career is effectively divided into before and after his hit song ‘Drowning’. Both WOODZ and ‘Drowning’ were previously far from mainstream attention. However, a video of him singing ‘Drowning’ during his military service was spread by fans to the general public, instantly turning him into a chart-reversal success story.
With new fans joining the existing fandom, WOODZ’s momentum began to pick up. But strictly speaking, he is still an artist with only one hit song. In the industry, this is considered a “golden time.” Depending on the music and results he builds from here, this rebound could either be a temporary trend or a solid foundation for the future. Unfortunately, at this critical moment, negative labels like “fan labor,” “unpaid hiring,” and “fan exploitation” have been attached to him.
In the fandom industry, trust is everything. Fans are more than just consumers; they are the ones who most actively support and promote the artist. Therefore, this controversy cannot be dismissed as a simple mishap. Fans have witnessed exactly how far their goodwill and affection can be utilized.
