"Eat and run" is a new term gaining popularity in Korea, in regards to idols who leave popular groups to embark on their own solo activities after years of training.

Korean media critics are reportedly questioning practices across all Korean entertainment labels in regards to their problematic methods, including lengthy years of training and recruiting foreign trainees. SM Entertainment in particular is coming under fire for its trainee system.

SM Entertainment is the focus of several recent scandals involving foreign-born idols. EXO's Kris and Luhan have brought lawsuits to leave SM Entertainment's megagroup, while Girls' Generation member Jessica was forcibly removed from the group, but still remains with SM Entertainment. Kris is Canadian-Chinese, while Luhan is from China; Jessica is Korean-American.

SM Entertainment has welcome more foreign-born idols and trainees, in comparison to JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment, SM's primary competing entertainment agencies. SM Entertainment has also had several of those foreign members leave.

Culture critic Kim Heon-Sik discussed the issues with foreign idols in a Media Today column, explaining that Korea's system is "a time-consuming process and also requires trainees to sacrifice, but is it right to train [foreign idols] in the same was as Koreans? ... Many Korean singers tolerate unfair practices from their agencies because that they can't fight against giants."

Foreign idols, like Kris and former Super Junior member Han Geng, have joined or plan to join entertainment companies in China. Due to the size of China's population and Chinese-speaking people all over the world, even less popular celebrities in China profit more than top tier idols.

Lee Dong-yeon, a professor at Korea National University of Arts, said that cultural differences may make it difficult for foreign idol group members to adjust to Korean cultural norms.

The difficulties of Korean idol life is also a likely reason for idols to leave. Jessica was asked to leave Girls' Generation following her desire to pursue running her own fashion company.

Due to the amount of scandals involving SM Entertainment idols this year, that company is coming under fire, but Korean media critics have also looked to the entertainment industry as a whole to question whether the traditional trainee method is still viable.

Idols from other companies also leave due to the rigorous lifestyle. MBLAQ's Lee Joon recently announced that he will not be renewing his contract with MBLAQ's management company so that he can focus on his acting career.

Korean idols train typically from a young age, and until debut they work hard but can still be cut from the company. Vocal idol Jo Kwon, a member of 2AM, is famous for having trained at JYP Entertainment for eight years. During his time as a trainee, Jo Kwon didn't merely have to perfect his singing and dancing, but he also had to do menial chores at his company.

During a press conference for the drama Queen of The Office in 2013, Jo Kwon went into detail about how difficult his years as a trainee were. "I cleaned the basement floor, changed water bottles, and made coffee for Park Jin-young [JYP Entertainment'CEO ] when I was a trainee...You nvever know when when you will debut or if you will get kicked out of the company, so you feel insecure every day."

YG Entertainment has a highly publicized form of trainees not making the cut; the company has hosted multiple competition shows, showing trainees go up against one another to finalize spots in idol groups. JYP Entertainment has also favored competition shows in the past.

Idol life has also come under fire in 2014 due to the car accident that killed two members of Ladies' Code, which was likely caused by reckless driving due to packed schedules.