SEOUL – When Ryu Sera made her debut with K-pop girlband Nine Muses, the years of intense training and ruthless competition seemed worthwhile, her dreams of stardom finally coming true.
A few top 10 singles followed, but within four years she had been cast on the K-pop scrapheap, sacked by her management company as it reshuffled the band’s line-up.
An attempted solo career foundered, she was left in debt, battling depression and contemplating suicide.
But six years after her dismissal, she has been given a second chance on a groundbreaking new television show for failed and former idols — and is speaking out against a structure that consumes young hopefuls with only a tiny…
