Why Korean celebrities apologize for wearing red during election season

A rapper's red hair has become the latest flashpoint in a recurring debate over politics and celebrity culture in Korea. Rapper Lee Young-ji issued a public apology Sunday after being swept into what Koreans often call a "political color controversy" ahead of the country's June 3 local elections. The controversy began after Lee shared photos of herself with newly dyed red hair. She also posted images of herself wearing red clothing and used CORTIS' song “REDRED” as background music. While the posts appeared to be ordinary social media updates, some online users interpreted the color choice as a political signal because red is commonly associated with Korea's main conservative People Power Party. The reaction quickly spread online, prompting Lee to address the criticism directly. A day later, she revealed that she had dyed her hair back to black and posted an apology. "I was clearly aware that this is an important period, but I think my desire to communicate with fans came first, and I uploaded recent photos without thinking carefully enough," Lee said. She added, "I will not hide behin

Original source: Korea Times