As the 21st presidential election approaches, a 'political alert' has been issued in the entertainment industry. Stars, including K-POP idols, need to exercise a higher level of caution than ever because even trivial actions or expressions can be misunderstood as a certain political color, potentially igniting controversy. This is because everything in daily life for those under the public's intense scrutiny can become a potential topic of controversy.
Recently, aespa member Karina became embroiled in an unexpected political controversy over a casual photo taken in Japan. In the photo released on the 27th, Karina wore a jumper printed with the red number '2' and included a rose emoji, which led some to raise suspicions of support for a particular political party. As the controversy escalated, Karina deleted the photo, but even a spokesperson from the People Power Party became involved, mentioning 'aespa shoutout' on social media, amplifying the fallout.
Such careless actions becoming political controversies are not limited to Karina. During a recent live broadcast, Baekhyun of the boy group NMIXX inadvertently made a 'V' sign with his fingers while being cute, then paused and told himself, "No, don't do a V". ZEROBASEONE's Kim Tae-rae also confessed that the 'V' sign was a mistake and cleverly responded that he would 'neutralize' the blue color of his phone, aptly reflecting the sensitivity of the election period.
There have been similar cases in the past. The boy group ATEEZ, on the day they filmed a vote certification photo, had some members instinctively trying to make a 'V' pose, prompting another member to quickly stop them, leading fans to comment, "It's a time when even one V has to be careful." WEi's Yongha sent a message on the fan communication community saying, "I just voted," along with a red heart emoji, and then immediately followed up with a blue heart, yellow heart, and green heart, explaining, "Oh, I almost got in trouble," and "I let my guard down."
As these controversies and instances repeatedly occur, entertainment agencies are becoming keenly aware of the heightened sensitivity regarding political issues, enforcing a strong 'political color warning' during sensitive times such as election season. They have established internal guidelines urging attention to minor details, including finger gestures, clothing colors, and mentions of numbers, as even a simple mistake could lead to a breach of advertising contracts or serious conflicts within fandoms.
Among fans, reactions to idols' political expressions are mixed. There are voices of concern such as, "I dislike it when my favorite idol makes political statements. I wish they would just focus on the stage," and, "I'm worried they will incur advertising penalties," while others argue, "I need to know their political stance in advance to decide whether I can continue fan activities," and, "They should be respected for their honest opinions."
Ultimately, with the presidential election approaching, K-POP idols are under the new pressure of 'political consumption.' Between fans' diverse expectations and societal sensitivities, even their trivial actions can be interpreted with political significance, necessitating heightened caution and careful communication.
[Photo] SNS
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