Politicians seek help from the stars

(From left) Kim Jang-hoon, Kim Han-gil and Choi Myung-gil / Korea Times

By Ko Dong-hwan

Several candidates in the general election on Apr. 13 have embraced well-known entertainers and celebrities to harness their popularity and image and attract public attention.

The stars appear with the candidates in public. The candidates also borrow songs, twist the lyrics and sing them on the streets while wooing voters, or use the music on their ringback tone for their contact number.

Early this month, Rep. Baek Seung-joo of the ruling Saenuri Party, a former vice defense minister who is seeking reelection in Gumi A district in North Gyeongsang Province, launched his election campaign office in a star-studded event that included actress Park Hae-mi, pop-opera singer Lim Hyung-joo and actor Lee Jung-gil.

Singer Kim Jang-hoon attended Rep. Kim Chan-young’s campaign office opening ceremony on Feb. 23. The musician emphasized his long-time friendship with the candidate, who is standing for Gumi B district and “daringly guaranteed” the candidate’s quality as a politician.

Actor Park Sang-won heads an official supporters group for Nam Ho-kyun, who is running for a seat in Daegu. At the opening of the candidate’s campaign office on Feb. 19, the actor, who earned fame after featuring in the SBS TV drama series “Sandglass” in 1995, advocated the former Chong Wa Dae official, with whom he has been friends for years.

Veteran trot singer Tae Jin-ah endorsed Lee Dong-kwan, a former presidential spokesman running for Seocho B district, by writing a campaign song. In 2011, Tae had promised Lee to write a campaign song if he ever stood for an election.

(From left) Park Sang-won, Lee Dong-kwan and Tae Jin-ah / Korea Times

Stars’ endorsement, in some cases has meant spousal support.

Miss Korea 1987 Jang Yoon-jeong, TV announcer-turned-actress Park Jung-sook and former small screen star Shim Eun-ha campaigned for their husbands _ Saenuri lawmakers Kim Sang-hoon (Gumi B district), Lee Jae-young (Gangdong-gu B district, Seoul) and Ji Sang-wuk (Jung-gu, Seoul), respectively. Veteran actress Choi Myung-gil, well-known as the wife of the minor opposition People’s Party’s election planning committee president Kim Han-gil, has taken advantage of her popularity from the KBS1 TV drama “My Home’s Honey Jar” in encouraging citizens of Gwangjin-gu A district, held by Kim, to vote for his party.

To win the hearts of voters in broader age groups, candidates are playing songs from K-pop hits to aged-yet-popular trot numbers as campaign music.

The Saenuri Party made headlines Tuesday when it selected “Pick Me” from Mnet’s TV girl band audition show “Produce 101” as one of its campaign songs.

The party’s other tracks include the 2015 ballad “What Did you Say?” by TV talent quest winners Kim Feel and Kwok Jin-eon, “Ollae” (2010) by trot star Jang Yun-jeong, and punk band Crying Nut’s “Fighting Korea,” the official cheer song for 2002 Korea-Japan FIFA World Cup.

People’s Party Rep. Joo Seung-yong, who is contesting Yeosu B district in South Jeolla Province, has set K-pop hit “Yeosu Night Sea” (2012) by rock band Busker Busker as a ringback tone for his contact number.