Entertainment industry is being censored due to political turmoil...Lim Young Woong, Cha Eun Woo and others are ”suffering”

The ‘state of emergency’ triggered by President Yoon, followed by impeachment, has also spread to the entertainment industry. Internet users have been ‘censoring’ celebrities and indiscriminately criticising stars who are not interested in politics or are silent.

On the 7th August, singer Lim Young-eun posted a photo of herself with her dog on SNS, with the comment ‘Happy Birthday’. Normally, she receives congratulations from her fans, but on this day she was criticised online in conjunction with the misty situation with the verdict on President Yoon's impeachment motion.

The incident started when an internet user published the content of a conversation with Im Young-eun in an online community, saying that she had received a reply to a DM (direct mail) she had sent to her, pointing out her political indifference. The internet user asked Im Yong-eun "What are you doing in this situation?" and added "I don't wish to raise my voice, but you are really insensitive. Aren't those of your age who have experienced martial law so far your main consumer group?" and sent a DM.

In response, a person presumed to be Im Yong Eun asked, "What is it?" and added, "Am I a politician? Why are you giving me a voice?" In this regard, internet users clashed over the idea that it was wrong to force a political statement, while pointing out that it was thoughtless to celebrate his dog's birthday in a confusing situation and make irresponsible statements.

On the same day, ‘ASTRO’ Cha Eun Woo was accused of being thoughtless by internet users for posting his picture on SNS during the time when the verdict on President Yoon's impeachment motion was being made. In an interview with a fashion magazine in 2005, actor Gong Yoo was asked, "Who are the three men you think are the coolest?" In an interview with a fashion magazine in 2005, actor Gong Yoo was criticised for choosing former President Park Jung Hee as his favourite man. In the end, Gong Yoo expressed regret, saying that it was not a prudent expression and that he rather thought it would be used politically because he is a celebrity.

In addition to this, actress Han So-hee, ‘NewJeans’ Hye Rin and former figure skater Kim Yo-na were also criticised for participating in the beauty brand's photo wall event on the 6th. On the other hand, the stars who expressed their views on impeachment politics and encouraged participation in candlelight rallies (demonstrations) received enthusiastic support and increased their likability.

On the 7th, actress Koh Ah Sung attracted attention when she went to Yeouido, where a candlelight rally was being held, and posted the following text "I don't like Korea, so I posted X (not) O to save Korea." Actresses Yiel and Ok Ja-yeon posted an authentication shot after attending the candlelight rally. In addition to this, actresses Koh Min-shi, Koh Hyun-jung and Kang Na-on also shared the Time Station Declaration and encouraged their participation in the candle rally.

Kim Hong-shik, a popular culture critic, noted that ‘stars in the entertainment industry have a great social influence and must be careful with their words and actions’ and that ‘forcing them to take a political stance and accusing them of not expressing their position is no different from a kind of violence’. He continued, "We have freedom of expression, but we also have the right to silence."