BTS’s Jin Votes Alongside Celebrities, Avoiding Political Controversy with Neutral Attire

BTS’s Jin visited a polling station in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on June 3 and cast his vote in the local elections. Having returned to South Korea after concluding his “Arirang” world tour in Las Vegas, he wore a gray shirt, black pants, and a black hat to maintain a neutral image. After voting, he briefly waved at waiting reporters before leaving.

Since political parties in South Korea are strongly associated with specific colors, many celebrities avoid wearing garments of such colors during the voting season to prevent misunderstandings about political intentions. Actor Jin Tae-hyun and his wife Park Si-eun shared photos of themselves voting in sports attire in black and white. The four Korean members of K-pop group Odd Youth posted voting confirmation photos on social media wearing neutral colors such as gray, black, and white. Actor Yoon Jong-hoon encouraged voting by posting a photo of himself at the polling station on Instagram, with actress Jang Young-ran and actor Park Si-eun also sending similar messages.

Some celebrities took their children to the polls to teach them the value of voting. Musical actors Son Jun-ho and Kim So-hyun posted an Instagram image showing them taking their son to the polls to emphasize its importance. Entertainer Jang Sung-kyu also took a photo in front of a polling station with his son, leaving a message saying, “Please do your best for our children as those who are elected.”

However, some entertainers faced controversy over political color associations. Rapper Lee Young-ji posted photos on social media during the early voting period wearing red clothes and with red hair, which drew criticism. She then dyed her hair black the next day and apologized, stating she was careless and had no political intentions. K-pop group Fromis_9’s Baek Ji-hyun also wore blue clothing during her first day of early voting on a live broadcast, prompting viewers to point it out. She changed into darker colored clothes during the broadcast. Rapper Woo (Woo Won-jae) voted at the same polling station as Jin, wearing a white T-shirt and a black beanie while taking a photo in front of the polling station sign.