K-pop stars opt for clenched fists over peace signs as voting day nears

Captured from social media

As the presidential election approaches, a cautionary note has already been issued to celebrities regarding how they present themselves when voting.

The 21st presidential election will take place on June 3, with early voting scheduled for May 29 and 30.

Voting-day selfies have occasionally stirred controversy, prompting celebrities to be especially mindful about how they present themselves — carefully choosing their poses and outfits and even concealing details like hair color. Some go so far as to bundle up on the way to the polling station, wary that their appearance might be misinterpreted as a political statement. The popular V sign, made with fingers, is also avoided. During election season, it is common to see celebrities clenching their fists when posing for photos.

The boy band TXT, also known as Tomorrow X Together, was recently seen posing with clenched fists in a group photo. TXT previously made headlines for improvising a sequence of hand gesticulations, counting from one to five, after realizing their use of the V sign during a live broadcast might be misinterpreted during an election.

A growing trend among younger voters is to create fan-made ballot stamps featuring their favorite celebrities as an alternative to the traditional hand-stamp method for verifying their vote.

This method has gained traction, partly in response to past incidents where celebrities faced backlash for taking photos inside polling stations. The use of photo cards as a means of vote verification surged during last year’s parliamentary elections. With increased awareness about selfies taken during voting, this shift in vote verification methods is drawing attention.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.