Korean American musician Jae Park (aka eaJ) spoke to reporter Anna Kook of AJ+ about the music industry's silence on Gaza and Palestine.
He says, "we are not just talking about a war. This isn't a war. It really does feel like a livestream genocide."
Posted by bookinsomnia
2 Comments
To be a kpop idol, you need to sanitize your image to make it commercially acceptable everywhere. Especially if you’re trying to reach a wider audience. If you speak out about Gaza, then you face the wrath of netizens who want to know why you’re not speaking out for Koreans. There was a Korean actor who spoke out about refugees and even though his private life is messy, many still hound him in the comments for caring about refugees.
And if you’re not Korean and speak out, then it’s going to be seen as someone using the kpop space while caring more for immigrants. Remember, this is the same place where if you read a regular fiction book about a woman’s journey in the 70s/80s, you’re a feminist and you get hate.
A lot of idols are young too and if they do anything, they risk losing their job and taking all of the heat from this with no company protection.
So I can understand why idols are not speaking out. This isn’t to defend the system of not speaking out. It’s just harder for someone like Ive, XG, Girl’s Generation, to speak out.
I do agree with Jae that someone like Beyonce and Taylor should be speaking out though. They have enough power and sway to say something without it hindering their life and career. But they won’t, because keeping the money train going is more important. Sad to say, but it’s true.
good for him, he’s absolutely right