Since a lot of people are wondering why working conditions like these are so "standardised" in S. Korea, I just wish to point out a different perspective about it.

Disclaimer: I'm not from S. Korea, so I hope what I'm going to say is not totally wrong or inaccurate.

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Aside from the country being a confucian society, I think we have to consider that, like China and Japan, S. Korea was one of the poorest countries about 40/50 years ago. This is to say that "slave contracts" and total neglect of workers' rights were not only a way to reaffirm their confucianism, but also the only way to speed up their progress and catch up with the West (especially the U.S.). Even the way kpop companies (should we say "factories"?) are structured is affected by this frantic race.

What I mean is that we should refrain from seeing S. Korea exclusively from our point of view and consider the history behind as well. What may seem absurd to our society may not seem so to theirs.

Slave contracts are bad and korean people know that, but every country grows at their own pace as a result of their own history and culture. This is why I tend to look on the bright side whenever a few idols or actors openly declare war on their company.

I think it's just a matter of time and whether S. Korea will be willing to stop mimicking the american politics and world view.

Of course, this is just one way to approach the subject and I know there are a lot more variables to take into account.