If you have noticed K-pop idols using black-and-white filters on their livestreams and avoiding red and blue clothes, there is a solid reason. Election season is here, and they must stay completely neutral. In South Korea, political parties are strongly linked to specific colours and numbers on voting ballots. Even simple choices like what to wear or how to pose can cause big problems. To prevent trouble, K-pop idols choose safe options and stay very careful with their looks and actions.
Many pick only black, white, or grey clothes during this time. They also use filters to remove colours from their videos. Red is linked to the conservative People Power Party. Blue stands for the liberal Democratic Party of Korea. Yellow and green belong to smaller parties, so artists avoid those too. Wearing the colour or using it in the background can quickly start rumours.
remember last election season jungwon went live like this 😭 https://t.co/JKEVwt8hHJ
— ً (@WONFAlRY) May 29, 2026
Hand signs need extra attention too. The common peace or V sign can look like support for Candidate Number 2. Artists sometimes catch themselves making the sign by habit and quickly change to a fist or hide their fingers. Public figures face huge pressure during these periods. In the past, some had to remove social media posts, explain their choices, or even apologise for using certain emojis that people link to politics.
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For example, Aespa’s Karina has faced this issue more than once. Earlier, she posted photos wearing a black and red jacket with the number two. Many people believed it was support for the conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo. She later removed the post. Recently, just one day before local elections, she shared new photos wearing a blue top. Once again, some fans and netizens questioned her choice of colour and timing.