Korean Celebrities Tread Carefully During Election Season Amid Political Color Sensitivities

As South Korea holds its 21st presidential election today, the entertainment industry has entered a phase of heightened caution to avoid accusations of political bias.

From wardrobe choices to hand gestures, celebrities are taking extra care to ensure that their public appearances and voting photos are not misconstrued as expressions of political support.

Common poses like the “V-sign” or “cheek poke” staples in idol photo sessions are being avoided due to their visual resemblance to the numbers associated with specific candidates.

This shift in behavior was notably seen during a recent fan signing by boy group RIIZE, where members instinctively adjusted hand gestures to avoid potential misinterpretation.

Social media posts have also become more calculated. BTS’s J-Hope shared a voting photo taken at the Oksu-dong Community Center, wearing an all-black outfit and avoiding any visible hand signs.

Similarly, IU posted her early voting selfie in neutral attire, and Kim Go-eun chose to share only an image of the polling location’s direction sign deliberately steering clear of color or symbolic cues.

The restraint stems from recent controversies involving public figures. Rapper Beenzino faced backlash after posting a photo in red attire during the early voting period, prompting him to issue an apology. Likewise, aespa’s Karina was criticized for uploading a picture in a red outfit with the number “2,” later clarifying she had no political intent and apologizing for the misunderstanding.

On the other hand, some celebrities have openly expressed political preferences. Actor Kim Eui-sung and singer Lee Seung-hwan, for instance, posted voting images in blue, a color associated with the Democratic Party, signaling more assertive stances.

With South Korea’s election season in full swing, the entertainment world is walking a fine line between public engagement and political neutrality, revealing the increasing complexity of celebrity influence in the digital age.