DJ DOC holds candles instead of microphones
DJ DOC members pose in this file photo. They are, from left, Kim Chang-ryeol, Jung Jae-yong and Lee Ha-neul. / Korea Times file
Lyrics calling President ‘Miss’ hit by feminists
By Park Jae-hyuk
DJ DOC joined the largest-ever candlelit rally held in downtown Seoul, Saturday, even though the group’s performance scheduled there had been cancelled.
The veteran hip-hop trio’s performance was cancelled because their song titled in Korean “Addressee Well-known” criticizing President Park Geun-hye was regarded as misogynistic. They released the song for free via Youtube the night before the rally.
The song abuses Park, her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil and pro-Park officials in Cheong Wa Dae and lawmakers in the ruling Saenuri Party.
However, some feminist organizations pointed out that some of the song’s lyrics, such as “Miss Park” and “Senorita,” were misogynistic. Due to such claims, the rally organizer cancelled DJ DOC’s scheduled performance at the venue a few hours before it was scheduled to take place.
Feminists claimed the President’s gender is not an important factor in the recent scandal, so referring to it is an inappropriate method of protest. In Korea, calling a young woman “Miss someone” has often been regarded as offensive.
DJ DOC and their company said “Miss” means “mistake” and “Senorita” is to criticize the Saenuri Party which is pronounced similarly in Korean ― Saenuri-dang.
People who support the singers demanded the organizer to reconsider the decision, saying they were struggling to understand why the lyrics were misogynistic. Sam Hammington, a foreign comedian from Australia, also wrote on Facebook that he could not understand the controversy over DJ DOC’s song.
Both sides had fiercely argued about the issue from morning till night, but DJ DOC was not allowed to sing the song on stage. Although the group wanted to sing their other hit songs instead, the organizer denied their request.
However, the three members ― Kim Chang-ryeol, Lee Ha-neul and Jung Jae-yong ― participated in the rally, holding candles in their hands.
Reporter Lee Sang-ho of an online news outlet Gobal News found them among the crowd and uploaded a video interview onto Facebook. He had supported the singers and the song. In the footage, the singers appear with masks and hats to conceal their identities.
“Today we are here to hold candles instead of microphones,” DJ DOC leader Lee said. “Cheong Wa Dae is the target of our anger right now. We should cooperate with each other rather than fight against each other.”
Lee said he frankly does not like organizations that regard the song as misogynistic, but he also said that now is not the right time to fight them.