Outspoken rappers under fire for keeping silent on Choi Soon-sil scandal

Veteran rapper P-Type, center, poses during a press conference for “Tribe of Hip Hop 2” at the JTBC building in Mapo, western Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of JTBC

By Kim Jae-heun

The nation’s popular rappers have been criticized for their relative silence on the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Hip-hop musicians are among the most popular cultural figures in Korea for being vocal and honest about social issues and delivering their messages through songs. Some veteran rappers have been unafraid to rap about politics, but this seems to have disappeared in recent days and young rappers are under fire for only bragging about their wealth.

Popular rappers including Dok2, Gaeko, Zico, Mino and BeWhy appeared on MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” last Saturday and were asked to make rap songs about Korean history. The episode’s theme was that the country can overcome the crisis by looking back on its history. Famous Korean history tutor Seol Min-suk also was a guest.

But many viewers complained they were uncomfortable watching several musicians show a complete lack of knowledge of the nation’s history, and one rapper was only interested in showing off his new luxury house.

Popular hip-hop idol group BigBang, of YG Entertainment, also has become a target of criticism after posting a picture of the members partying last Friday night at label founder Yang Hyun-suk’s home. The five members of the group were pictured drinking wine with Yang and other entertainment figures.

Netizens criticized BigBang’s act while citizens were pouring into the streets in protest of the scandal surrounding Park. They said it was particularly disappointing because YG is one of the top talent agencies that leads the country’s popular culture and has recently been suspected of close ties with Choi’s family at the center of the scandal.

However, rappers Cho PD and Jerry.k have released a song calling for President Park’s resignation while singers Lee Seung-hwan, Lee Hyo-ri and Jeon In-kwon produced “Left Out on Street” to support citizens.

Popular underground rapper Paloalto said rap music is not all about voicing political or social opinions but about expressing feelings. “Making a song about a current issue depends on the rapper’s tendency or his personality,” said Paloalto, during a press conference for JTBC’s rap survival show “Tribe of Hip Hop 2,” at the JTBC building in Mapo, western Seoul, Monday.

Veteran rapper P-Type said: “It is hard to find people with a firm political stance around me as our life is already hard enough. People go to work early and come home late. Politics is a secondhand issue to many people and I don’t want to add extra stress by releasing a song about the scandal that is already too much stress.”

But MC Sniper said he has made a song about the scandal and is waiting for the right time to release it. However, he is worried it might create an issue for the TV show he is starring in and he doesn’t want to cause trouble for others involved in its production.