K-pop stars are no longer 'puppets'

Singer Lee Jung, from left, actor Jeong Man-sik and Chansung of popular K-pop boy band 2PM are among entertainers who strongly condemned the government’s lax approach to public safety following the deadly sinking of ferry Sewol./ Korea Times files

Stars unleash harsh criticism of shipwreck disaster

By Park Si-soo

Gone are the days when entertainers mostly made sweet-sounding public relations comments and watched their backs because of political pressure.

Following the deadly sinking of the ferry Sewol, many K-pop stars and actors have unleashed a verbal onslaught on the country’s chronic insensitivity to public safety, relevant countermeasures hibernating in the government’s dusty cabinets and a lack of effort to check and fix these loopholes proactively.

Among the determined “attackers” are singers Lee Jung, Park Ki-young, Chansung and Taecyeon of 2PM, Jo Kwon of 2AM, and actors Seo Joon-myung and Jeong Man-sik.

They have openly condemned some politicians and their supporters who made a perfunctory visit to the disaster site as part of efforts to promote themselves in the lead up to June 4 local elections.

Not so long ago, entertainers had to follow a sort of “practice” of closing their eyes and mouths about controversial issues shaking society or face forced exile from the stage courtesy of retribution by someone “above.”

Even in the 1980s, resemblance in looks to then President Chun Doo-hwan, who took office through a bloody military coup, was considered “blasphemy,” so actor Park Yong-sik was banned from appearing on TV during his tenure in office (1980-88).

“I had to make a living running a small grain-grinding mill. My life was really tough back then,” Park, who died of sepsis in August 2013, recounted during a TV show he appeared on seven months ahead of his death.

“It was really shocking that I was banned from appearing on TV only because of my looks.”

'Incompetent and idiotic'

Enraged by what he considered the “slow” rescue of passengers trapped on the capsized ferry, mostly high school students, K-pop singer Lee Jung dropped a provocative bombshell on Twitter on April 19, describing policymakers as “polluted water” and “pus.”

“This is the latest case revealing how incompetent, empty-headed and power- and money-oriented they are,” he wrote. “GET OUT OF MY SIGHTRIGHTNOW.”

He added: “You can be blamed for the failure (of Korea) to become an advanced country with exceptionally talented people.”

Lee deleted this message amid controversy on the Internet, but soon posted another one.

“I deleted the post that I wrote in the morning, not able to conceal my anger about the disaster,” he wrote. “But my feeling about the event remains unchanged. I am just so devastated and sorry that I can’t do anything about it.”

Earlier, he canceled his solo concert, saying, “Sorry to all of you who had waited for it, and I send my deepest condolences to the families and all the relatives of the victims.”

Actor Jeong Man-sik, who portrayed a warm-hearted and innocent figure in many dramas and films, strongly criticized “opportunistic or apathetic” politicians alike, including Governor Kim Moon-soo of Gyeonggi Province who has been grilled for a self-written poem he posted on Facebook for leisure amid spiking public anger over the disaster. Danwon High School, which lost hundreds of students in the accident, is located in his province. The governor has decided not to run for reelection to prepare for the 2017 presidential election.

“People say entertainers are public figures and public figures should not make comments about controversial events. I don’t think I’m a public figure. I’m speaking as a taxpaying ordinary citizen,” Jeong wrote on his Facebook page on April 16. “I will stop living as an irresponsible citizen who has tried to meet the expectations of society. From now on, I will become outspoken. I will say what I want to say.”

As the death toll continues to rise, Jeong posted another message on April 21.

“I learned when I was an elementary school student that it’s a basic obligation to help a friend in trouble and escort the friend on his/her way back home from school... It’s a truly fine day, but the niceness breaks my heart,” Jeong wrote.

Soloist Park Ki-young lamented about the manmade tragedy, saying on Twitter, “It’s deplorable that we don’t have truly professional experts in risk management. Yes, it’s a cruel April.”

'Get a life'

Chansung of 2PM echoed Park’s view, saying, “Accidents always happen. What’s important is how we respond to them. This disaster showed how unprepared we are in dealing with disaster.”

The same band’s member Taecyeon slammed rumormongers, especially those spreading malicious rumors against affected people, “Stop spreading rumors. If you are a human being, you cannot do it at this moment.”

Singer-turned-fashion designer Kim Ju-nie wrote on the photo-sharing website Instagram, “At this moment, I’m ashamed of being Korean, a feeling I’ve never felt in life,” lashing out at the government’s repeated miscounting of passengers on board, slow rescue operations and baseless online rumors ridiculing those unaccounted for and their families.

On Sunday, police arrested a member of “Ilbe,” an online community full of self-proclaimed right-wingers, for posting four sexually harassing remarks about Sewol victims.

The man, identified as Chung, 28, is suspected of having posted the following remarks April 17-20: “All of them must be getting seriously oxygen-deprived. Don’t you guys think there would be a gang-rape of some sort?” Police said there are dozens of similar cases under investigation.

“Disseminating false information is a serious crime. Given the gravity of this Sewol tragedy, and the trauma the victims and families are going through, we will make sure those committing such crimes are held accountable,” an investigator said.

Jo Kwon of K-pop boy band 2AM vented frustration over what he called the “irresponsible” captain of the ferry, the “un-systematized” response of the government and “unreliable” media reports. “Get a life!” he wrote.