5 weird K-pop TV rules: why BTS member Jungkook hides his tattoos on air and RM could only flash one nipple on Music Bank

Aug 12 , 2021

BTS’ Jungkook has to cover up his tattoos for TV appearances while girl groups like Blackpink wear high-waisted pants to avoid showing off their belly buttons ... what other broadcast rules do K-pop idols have to follow? Photos: @ryuhojeong92; @taebear123V/Twitter, @blackpinkofficial/Instagram

Girl groups like Blackpink often wear high-waisted pants on SBS, MBC and KBS TV music shows – due to a rule prohibiting revealing their belly buttons

Big Bang’s G-Dragon and TVXQ had to create clean versions of their songs, and Hyuna got told off because her facial expression was apparently ‘too sexual’

K-pop idols regularly wow their fans with stellar performances on the seemingly endless list of Korean music shows, but have you ever wondered about what doesn’t make it on screen? Celebrities in South Korea are subjected to high moral standards after all, and that goes for their song lyrics and how they appear on the air too.

Here are five behind-the-scenes broadcast rules that Korean music artists must abide by that you probably didn’t know about …

No tattoos

BTS’ Jungkook covered up his tattoos with long sleeves and a bandage. Photo: @ryuhojeong92/Twitter

On Korean TV shows, idols can often be seen covering up their tattoos. On KBS talk show Let’s BTS, Jungkook from BTS wore long sleeves and a bandage to cover up his tattoos – which include the letters “ARMY” on his knuckles, the name of BTS’ feisty official fan club – as well as other symbols on his hand and fingers.

BTS’ Jungkook with his tattoos showing. Photo: @hlphlp1/Twitter

Although there isn’t a rule stipulating that idols cannot flash their tattoos on television, most Korean tattoo parlours aren’t strictly legal – tattooing is considered a medical service, and thus tattooists need a medical license to operate. Since splurging on a medical degree just to be a tattoo artist isn’t realistic for most, many Korean tattooists operate in small illegal shops instead. There’s also lingering stigma around tattoos, as they were primarily associated with gang culture in the past.

The one nipple rule

One odd broadcasting rule is that male idols can flash their nipples on screen – but reportedly only one at once. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this rule has resulted in a number of silly mishaps, such as RM’s nip slip incident on KBS’ Music Bank.