K-Pop Stars Participate in Early Voting: IU and Others Avoid Political Controversy
How Celebrities Like IU Are Encouraging Voting Without Revealing Political Biases
K-Pop Stars Hit the Polls: IU and More Participate in Early Voting
In the midst of Korea’s 21st Presidential Election, K-pop stars like IU have shown their civic spirit by participating in early voting. IU, known for her low-profile approach, shared her voting experience with fans via a fan communication platform, saying, “I voted early yesterday. Early voting is until 6 PM today!!!” Accompanied by a modest photo at a Yongsan-gu polling station, IU’s outfit – featuring a neutral-toned bucket hat and checked shirt – emphasized a non-controversial presence.
Other Stars Join the Wave
– BTS’s J-Hope also showcased his participation by posting a picture outside the Oksu-dong community center, donning all-black attire.
– Actress Kim Go-eun subtly notified her fans by sharing a photo of a polling station guide.
– Comedian Jo Se-ho, actress So Yoo-jin, and couple from Roo’ra, Lee Sang-min, joined this discreet participation, highlighting a colorless vote movement.
From Subtle to Overtones
While many stars remained neutral, others faced backlash due to implications of their outfits or accessories potentially aligning with specific political parties.
– Aespa’s Karina sparked controversy by posting a photo in a red jumper featuring the number ‘2’.
– Rapper Beenzino faced similar issues, leading to an apology for his choices of attire.
Clear Messages from Other Celebrities
In contrast, some celebrities used their platform to explicitly express their political leanings:
– Singer Lee Seung-hwan and actor Kim Eui-sung wore blue shirts, clearly supporting a particular party.
– Former announcer Choi Dong-seok joined the trend, not shying away from his political stance.
A Creative Twist
IZONE* alum Lee Chae-yeon managed to artfully balance both sides in her voting photo. Displaying a blue wristband beside a red cherry tomato and captioning it with a witty remark about neutrality, she charmed fans and lightened the mood surrounding political tensions.
