Two K-pop stars were embroiled in controversies this week: K-pop boy band Stray Kids’ Han Ji-sung for lyrics he wrote in the past and K-pop girl group GFRIEND’s leader Sowon for uploading photos with a Nazi mannequin.
Han courted controversy for racist rap lyrics he wrote in 2013 when he was 13, or before he debuted in Stray Kids in 2018.
A video of his rap was reuploaded online in which the lyrics disparaged foreign workers, translated to "you are a Negro migrant worker,” according to the Korea Times.
The report also stated that Han “also used the Korean word that refers to ‘you’ -- which is pronounced as ‘niga’ -- in an apparent attempt to imply the N-word.”
After the controversy erupted, Han explained and apologized for the racist lyrics.
“First, the lyrics I wrote around 2013 when I was 13 years old have caused great concern to fans and many others. Without any excuse, this is completely my fault. I sincerely apologize,” he said in a handwritten apology uploaded on Stray Kids’ Instagram account.
He added, “I wrote the inappropriate lyrics with only the single thought of wanting to rap during my irresponsible, younger days. I apologize for hurting so many people with the lyrics written without thinking enough.”
“Due to this incident, I was able to think deeply while reading comments that many had left, as well as the lyrics I wrote in the past. The reason why I chose to become a singer was so I could express myself through music and connect with many people. Because of this, I feel greatly ashamed of myself for writing such lyrics in the past,” Han said.
He said, “As I fully understand that such behavior cannot be excused simply because of young age, I will reflect upon my actions deeply. I will always cherish the love and support sent by fans globally and will become someone who stands on stage with a righteous heart. Once again, I sincerely apologize to all of those who I have scarred due to my past behavior.”
GFRIEND Sowon’s Nazi mannequin photos
On Jan. 31, Sowon uploaded photos on her Instagram account showing her hugging and adoring a Nazi mannequin, a display at Cafe Zino in Paju, Gyeonggi Province in South Korea.
Cafe Zino was a location site for GFRIEND’s Comeback Show to promote their album “Walpurgis Night” released in November last year.
In its apology, Source Music, GFRIEND’s agency, said Sowon “herself immediately deleted the photographs after being aware of what the images contain. She is feeling a profound sense of responsibility and deep regret for having uploaded the photographs.”
The US-based Simon Wiesenthal Center and Australia’s Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), two organizations fighting anti-Semitism, criticized Sowon for her action.
“Shame on Big Hit Entertainment as another of its K-pop groups embrace Nazi symbols. SWC efforts to educate company useless then apology useless now. Knowingly denigrate 6 million Jews murdered in WWII Nazi Holocaust; boosts today’s racist neo-Nazis,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center told Manila Bulletin in an email.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, ADC chairman, earlier told Manila Bulletin that the “so-called apology is simply not enough. Sowon has to explain why she posed with a mannequin whose insignia represents pure evil and inhumanity, and the extermination of six million Jews and millions of others.”
“We call on Sowon to do some serious soul searching and offer a heartfelt and sincere statement of regret for the hurt and pain she has caused to the survivors and the families. We also hope that she takes the time to learn about the Holocaust and the crimes that the Nazis committed,” he said.