6/21/2023 0 Comments Korean spy cam scandal![]() ![]() If we compare this to the MeToo movement in America where women spoke up and took a stance against sexual harassment, South Korea is taking just another small step towards justice for the victims. The victims are all nameless women, whose voices remain unheard. And yet still in this whole blow-up, it is a male journalist who uncovered the unspeakable situation. The scandal comes as a shock to many dedicated fans of the Korean entertainment industry, but also highlights issues of corruption and misogyny that have grown increasingly salient in South Korea in recent years: the impeachment of Park Geun-hye and the arrest of Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae-yong uncovered still pervasive misconduct of people in power whereas the recent flood of spy cam pornography incidents exposed widespread harassment of women in public places. The story has now been covered by BBC, CNN and other international media outlets, making it a part of the global discourse on corruption and sex-related crimes. The points, remarks and phrases used in the conversations were, frankly speaking, disgusting, and objectified women. The extent to which the services were consensual on the women’s side remains unknown. In separate KakaoTalk conversations it was revealed that Seungri, in order to procure financial benefits, offered sexual services from various women to the executives. In this chat, illicit and illegal videos were shared and there were mentions about “sleeping pills” given to women in order to facilitate sex. The center of the scandal lies in a group chat on popular Korean messaging app KakaoTalk, shared by several (some still unnamed) celebrities and corporate executives. J ung Joon-young is officially a suspect in hidden camera sex videos sharing, and Yong Jun-hyung, another singer involved, left Highlight, a widely popular K-pop group, after it had been brought to light that he had been aware of the illegal activities. YG Entertainment’s stock prices went plummeting, and more celebrities are discovered to be involved in the scandal. K-pop star Seungri has retired from Big Bang in response to allegations of corruption, soliciting prostitution and tax evasion. It is my hope that this student magazine can serve as a platform for students’ voices, and if it can serve as a platform for women’s voices as well, then all the better. ![]() NOVAsia has published extensively about women’s issues before, in Korea and elsewhere. As the following commentaries of some of NOVAsia’s editors – all women – will show, underneath the saccharine surface, there are secrets that reveal a bitter truth about misogyny, sexism, and exploitation. But the thing about K-pop is that it is not just about K-pop. I willingly admit I have never understood the appeal. Considering the size of the country, the South Korean brand of catchy, upbeat pop with well-coordinated videos is one of the most prominent musical trends in the world. Photo: ABC News A word from the editor-in-chief Central figure in a scandal that is rocking Korean society. ![]()
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