One of the most fascinating phenomena to grip 21st century international culture is K-pop, or more widely, hallyu or the Korean Wave, including not only South Korean pop music but also movies and television dramas.
I’m a fan of k-dramas, especially sageuk (사극) or historical shows. I don’t care for most movies because they are extremely violent, dark, and lewd. For the same reason, I avoid most American television and film. I like BTS, there are some incredibly gifted Korean jazz and ballad vocalists and instrumentalists, but the girl-group and boy-group phenomena and SK trainee culture is pretty toxic. Nevertheless, the global soft power of Korean cultural exports, especially when one considers fandoms (BTS Army is estimated to number 30 to 40 million), can have a major impact on global political and economic affairs.
How about internally? What do South Koreans think of their idols? Do they have political impact there? They certainly make a dent economically. Again, to take BTS as an example, Hybe, the label behind BTS, recorded annual sales in 2023 of $1.6 billion while total South Korean GDP for 2022 stood at $1,674 billion. Politically, however, celebrities are to remain strictly neutral — and yet they must be seen to vote to be politically engaged. Despite popular calls for exemption, all BTS members are currently serving their mandatory military duty.
In this year of global elections, when half the world’s population will go to the polls, South Korea is currently holding general elections. Strict rules apply to idols.
No colors or hand gestures during elections: 5 no-nos for Korean idols and celebrities (joins.com)
K-pop idols are hardly political experts and shouldn’t be taken as any kind of leader to form public opinion. And yet they are extremely visible trendsetters and social examples. It bears thinking about how celebrity politics works, and doesn’t, on both the international and domestic stage.
Here’s a summary/roundup of harder news links on the domestic political and election situation in South Korea from Daily Chatter.
