MAMAMOO’s Moon Byul has shocked fans with a revelation about the strict surveillance system she and her group faced during their debut years.
On September 26, the YouTube channel Just Lee Mijoo released a video titled 'K-POP Trade Secrets, It’s Time to Tell (feat. Ear Warning).' The episode featured Moon Byul (MAMAMOO), Youngji (KARA), Hyojung (Oh My Girl), and Seulgi (Red Velvet), who gathered to reminisce about their early trainee and debut experiences.
When (Mijoo) Lee Mi Joo asked if each agency had its own set of rules, Seulgi replied, “Didn’t they take away our phones back then?” Moon Byul added, “That’s why we used to exchange emails.” Youngji recalled, “We had just one shared iPad, and we all took turns using it.”
Moon Byul went on to explain that they often carried portable Wi-Fi devices (called “egg”) to stay connected outside, as mobile data was limited. This prompted laughter and nods of agreement from the others.
The conversation turned more serious when Mijoo revealed that managers would secretly enter their dorms during practice hours to inspect belongings. “If they found snacks or food, we would get scolded badly,” she said. At this point, Moon Byul stunned the group by disclosing, “We had CCTV. There was one in front of the house, and even in the kitchen.”
She shared an anecdote about sneaking out despite the cameras: “We would pretend we were just going out to exercise. We put on sportswear, grabbed a jump rope, and whispered, ‘Shall we go work out?’ so the cameras wouldn’t catch us talking about going out.”
Other idols related to these restrictions. Mijoo said she wasn’t even allowed to go to convenience stores, while Hyojung revealed, “Even at music shows, we had to go to the bathroom in pairs, holding hands, because managers wouldn’t let us go alone.” Seulgi recalled being surprised by how young Oh My Girl seemed, as they still needed permission to go to the restroom.
When asked why such strict measures existed, Hyojung explained, “They worried we might make eye contact with male idols or secretly receive notes.” Seulgi asked if such notes were common, to which Hyojung admitted she never got one.
But Moon Byul revealed otherwise: “Actually, I did get a note once. Not at a broadcast station, but through staff at a salon. It had an email address on it. I thought it was just to become friends, but it turned out to be flirting,” she said shyly, admitting it came from a male idol. Her confession drew laughter, with Seulgi joking, “Let’s find out which man it was back then!”
This candid conversation has sparked widespread discussion, shedding light on the strict control and surveillance many K-pop idols endured during their early years.
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