Celebrity 'Color Theory' Fuels Political Scrutiny During South Korean Elections

During election seasons in South Korea, celebrities are increasingly finding their personal choices, from hair color to clothing, scrutinized and interpreted as political statements. This phenomenon, dubbed "celebrity color theory," has become a recurring issue, with artists facing intense online backlash for seemingly innocuous decisions.

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I think I was so preoccupied with the desire to communicate that I was careless in posting my recent photos.

Recent incidents highlight the severity of this trend. Singer Lee Young-ji faced criticism for posting photos with red hair and wearing red clothing on Instagram, leading her to delete the images and issue an apology for her "thoughtless actions" during a sensitive period. Similarly, Baek Ji-heon of the girl group fromis_9 changed her blue outfit during a live broadcast on the day of early voting, apparently to avoid political misinterpretation. These events echo past controversies, such as when aespa member Karina's choice of clothing with red accents during the presidential election sparked similar debates.

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Unlike foreign fandom cultures that maintain a distance while supporting celebrities, Korean core fandoms believe they can control the celebrities' political tendencies as much as they invest financially and emotionally.

Experts argue that this intense scrutiny goes beyond reasonable expectations for public figures. While celebrities are expected to exercise caution during sensitive political times due to their influence, interpreting every personal choice as a political affiliation is excessive. Professor Gu Jeong-woo of Sungkyunkwan University attributes this to a tendency among some core Korean fan bases to believe they have a right to control the political leanings of the celebrities they support, a stark contrast to more distant fan cultures in other countries.

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Celebrities have a great fear of being 'misrepresented' because their profession is based on the desire to be loved by the public.

Cultural critic Jeong Deok-hyeon suggests that celebrities, whose careers are built on seeking public affection, feel a significant pressure to hide their political views to avoid being "misrepresented" or "demonized." This environment forces them into strategic choices that suppress their personal expression. The experts emphasize the need for fans to separate their admiration for a celebrity's work from their political beliefs, advocating for a more mature approach that respects individual autonomy and avoids projecting personal political desires onto public figures.

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It doesn't seem desirable to expect that the celebrities I like will have the same political tendencies as me. A stance that separates (political tendencies and the feeling of support) is necessary.