[SC Issue] “IU, Yuri → NewJeans Boycott”… Backlash after Impeachment Rally Support, Prepayment Company Controversy
[Sports Chosun Reporter Baek Ji-eun] There’s ongoing debate over the goodwill of entertainment stars who have shown support for protests demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 3rd, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law shocked the nation. Fortunately, the martial law was lifted in less than a day, but rallies demanding Yoon’s resignation and impeachment continued.
What stands out is the different behaviors of stars compared to the past. Unlike before, when they usually refrained from making statements on political issues, many have chosen to voice their opinions, either by joining the protests directly or supporting through prepayments.
Director Park Chan-wook bought all the bread from a bakery near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and distributed it to citizens attending nearby protests. He used the title of his film “Decision to Leave” to create stickers saying “Decision to Leave Yoon Suk-yeol” and “Are the citizens so easy?” which he stuck on the bread bags.
IU’s agency, Edam Entertainment, announced that they had made prepayments at five stores in the Yeouido area, offering food and hot packs to warm the cold hands of Uaenas (IU’s fandom) attending the protest with light sticks. IU prepared 200 pieces of bread, 100 rice cakes, 200 drinks, and 200 bowls of gukbap (rice soup).
The song most frequently sung at this protest was “Into the New World” by Yuri and Seohyun, who also voiced their support. Yuri made a prepayment order at a gimbap place in Dangsandong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Seohyun shared a photo of the book “The Boy is Coming” by author Han Kang along with some lyrics from “Into the New World.”
NewJeans also shared prepayment information for 500 servings of gimbap, drinks, and samgyetang (chicken soup) via their newly created account, expressing their hope to help in some way.
Other celebrities, including Ko Min-shi, Lee Chaeyeon, P.O, Lee Dong-wook, Tony An, Choi Min-sik, Han Ye-ri, and G-Dragon, also voiced their opinions.
While many have praised the bravery of these stars, there has been strong backlash as well. After the impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on the 14th, some declared a boycott of the stars who supported the protests. Some netizens have moved not to purchase products for which these stars, who supported the protesters through food prepayments, are advertising.
Moreover, there have been allegations of prepayment businesses exploiting the situation. Some stores where stars made prepayments were reportedly prioritizing in-person or delivery orders, neglecting the prepaying customers. Netizen A commented, “I went to the prepaid gimbap shop, but the prepayment orders were repeatedly delayed due to delivery orders. I waited 45 minutes, but only five people ahead of me were served. The prepayment cookie shop said ‘it’s too busy right now’ and was taking orders from people behind me. I hope they stop treating prepaid customers like they’re getting free charity meals.”
Netizens expressed outrage, saying, “We can’t confirm if they distributed the prepaid amount,” “This hospitality is being exploited,” “Check quantities and reclaim what’s left,” and “There are likely many shops exploiting this.”
Reporter Baek Ji-eun [email protected]