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South Korea’s K-pop stars face pressure to speak up on Yoon’s martial law saga
While some K-pop idols have slammed President Yoon Suk-yeol, other stars face criticism for being indifferent to the political turmoil
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The fallout from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s botched attempt to impose martial law and the subsequent unsuccessful impeachment vote against him has threatened to split the K-pop industry as its stars face pressure to take a position on the political saga that has stunned the world.
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Several celebrities have backed the ongoing protests in Seoul over Yoon’s ill-fated move and joined calls demanding his ouster.
But other stars had attracted criticism for remaining silent, exposing apparent divisions in the industry considered one of South Korea’s top cultural exports.
Singer Lee Chae-yeon, a former member of the girl group Iz*ONE, took a jab at fellow entertainers for their perceived disinterest in the episode, which has roiled the nation for over a week.
“Not in a position to talk about politics? Then what exactly is the ‘right’ position to talk about it?” Lee said in a post on a fan communication platform.
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“As a citizen and a member of society, I’ll decide for myself when and what to speak up about.”
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