By Lee Hyo-sik
A song cannot be considered harmful to the youth just because the lyrics contain the word ``alcohol,’’ the court said Thursday.
The Seoul Administrative Court ruled that a censorship arm of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family should revoke its decision to designate a single album, titled ``Miss You So Much’’ by four male singers belonging to SM Entertainment, as harmful to adolescents.
``The album does not explicitly state the alcohol manufacturing methods or its health effects, which are considered harmful to teenagers under the Youth Protection Law. The song lyrics do not seem to encourage adolescents to drink alcohol either,’’ the court said in the ruling.
The song ``Miss You So Much’’ contains the lines, ``I will stop missing you by getting drunk’’ and ``I dream after falling asleep by getting drunk.’’
Although alcohol is designated as harmful to teens, scenes of actors and actresses drinking alcohol are normally seen in TV dramas and movies, and often written about in poetry, novels and other works of literature, the court said.
“Alcohol is not like narcotics and other hazardous substances. It cannot be said that the song containing words `alcohol’ and `getting drunk’ encourages youngsters to drink,’’ it said.
It said singers should be given freedom of expression, adding they are allowed to say words and phrases having to do with alcohol if it is more effectively to convey the state of their emotions.
The song ``Miss You So Much’’ was released in November last year, gaining popularity mostly from teenagers. But two months later, the ministry slapped it with the ``harmful to youth’’ rating, saying that its lyrics includes words ``alcohol’’ and ``getting drunk.’’
As a result, the song was banned from being played on TV and radio from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays. During weekends and school vacations, it was not heard from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The album also had to be separated from others in display stands, while flyers and other advertisement materials were banned from public places.
Against this backdrop, SM Entertainment filed a suit against the ministry in March to nullify the ``harmful to youth’’ rating, arguing the song does not promote alcoholism. It said the lyrics include the words ``alcohol’’ and ``getting drunk’’ only to express the singers’ agony after the breakup.
