K-Pop Stars in South Korea's Presidential Election: Controversy Surrounds aespa's Karina and Ateez's Wooyoung's Viral V-Sign Gesture
In the ongoing South Korean presidential elections, K-pop is playing a significant role, albeit indirectly, in political campaigns. The front-running candidates have chosen to leverage classic K-pop hits, such as Kim Jong Kook's "Lovable," Young Tak's "Next Door Oppa," Koyote's "Pure Love," and Uhm Jung Hwa's "Festival," as campaign anthems. Notably, the artists themselves have chosen to stay clear of the political arena.
To contain costs, both major parties, the Democratic Party (DPK) and the People Power Party (PPP), have opted for older K-pop tunes, rather than negotiating licensing agreements with contemporary giants like SM Entertainment and HYBE. Kim Dong Hwan, PPP campaign official, stated that the decision to utilize retro K-pop helped reduce expenses, as licensing fees could range from 3 million won ($2,170) to tens of millions won, depending on the track's popularity [Bloomberg].
While K-pop serves as a powerful tool in rallying public support for South Korean politicians, the artists remain hesitant to endorse political candidates directly, unlike their American counterparts. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, for instance, have openly expressed their support for Presidential candidates in the past.
In contrast to the U.S., South Korean celebrities face intense scrutiny over any perceived political or cultural insensitivity, which can potentially lead to a backlash among fans and the public. This level of public gaze is not as prevalent in U.S. celebrity culture [Enrichment Data].
Two notable cases where K-pop stars have been involved in political controversies are aespa's Karina and ATEEZ's Wooyoung. Karina faced scrutiny after posting a photo on social media wearing a jacket with the number "2," which is associated with the conservative People Power Party. Despite her agency's claim that the post held no political intent, the item of clothing was quickly sold out online [AllKPop].
Wooyoung, on the other hand, stirred controversy when he made a V-sign while posing for photographs at the airport, a gesture that garnered unwanted attention due to its political connotations in South Korea. In response, he issued an apology on a fan platform [Excerpt from the original text].
As South Koreans prepare to cast their votes on June 3, various K-pop stars have been vocal or have fallen into political controversies. For instance, IU urged citizens to vote, while aespa's Karina and ATEEZ's Wooyoung drew attention for different reasons. Meanwhile, the use of retro K-pop tunes in political campaigns highlights the subtle yet powerful influence of K-pop in South Korean politics.
- The influence of K-pop extends beyond entertainment, as it has subtly impacted the South Korean presidential elections, with classic hits being used as campaign anthems.
- Unlike their American counterparts, South Korean celebrities are cautious about endorsing political candidates directly due to potential public backlash and cultural sensitivities.
- Cost-containment measures have led both major parties in the South Korean elections to opt for older K-pop tunes instead of negotiating with contemporary giants like SM Entertainment and HYBE.
- The use of retro K-pop in political campaigns signals the genre's pervasive influence in South Korean society, as evidenced by recent controversies surrounding aespa's Karina and ATEEZ's Wooyoung.
