K-pop Idols Begin Self-Censorship Ahead of June Presidential Election as “V Sign” Turns into Political Symbol

As South Korea’s presidential election approaches on June 3, K-pop idols have entered an era of “self-censorship,” where they pay close attention to even the smallest finger gestures. Everyday actions that could be interpreted as political symbols have become sources of controversy, creating tension in their public activities. The core issue lies with the “V” sign. This finger gesture is recognized as the political symbol of the conservative People Power Party (number 2 on voting slips, colored red), meaning a momentary mistake could be misinterpreted as an expression of political support. On May 27, Bae from NMIXX made a V sign during a YouTube live broadcast but immediately moved her hand to her shoulder while shouting, “No! Don’t make a V!” Seolyun, another NMIXX member, also paused mid-V sign while doing a challenge pose, then counted from 1 to 5 with her fingers to change the gesture. TOMORROW X TOGETHER posed with clenched fists in group photos and used alternative movements instead of the V sign during live broadcasts by counting from 1 to 5. The virtual boy band PLAVE also carefully folded their fingers while taking group photos during a YouTube live on May 24. There are even more extreme cases. Kim Taerae of ZEROBASEONE posted a selfie showing a V sign along with the message “I am in Korea” on the fan communication app “Bubble,” but quickly added, “Ah, I heard you shouldn’t make a V sign this season,” before saying, “I’ll keep it neutral with a blue phone case,” and then deleted the photo. The scheduled voting period itself has also become a subject of political debate. Some celebrities carefully choose their poses and clothing for selfies on election day, even covering their hair color. The fact that K-pop stars go to such lengths over a single finger gesture illustrates just how sensitive political symbols can be. Along with changes in South Korea’s political landscape, K-pop idols’ public activities are now subject to voluntary censorship aimed at maintaining political neutrality. This phenomenon paradoxically reflects how greatly the K-pop industry has expanded globally and gained influence.