Par Kwak Yeon-soo
With the growing popularity of secondary K-pop derivative content, writing, sharing, and reading fan fiction featuring idols has become common in fandoms.
Risks lurk in these creative works, as the recent presidential petition shows.
The sexualization of K-pop singers in fan fiction caused a stir earlier this month after an anonymous petitioner filed a complaint on Cheong Wa Dae’s website, calling for harsh punishment for “real person slashing (RPS) involving underage male idols.
RPS is a fan-fiction subgenre depicting same-sex relationships involving real people, rather than fictional characters. In Korea, RPS first gained popularity in the 1990s with the rise of first-generation idols like HOT and Sechs Kies.
Over the decades, fans have continued to share RPS fanfictions with other enthusiasts in the form of writings, drawings, memes, and videos. Many portray romantic and often erotic tensions between same-sex K-pop idols. Some involve sexual acts as well as scenes of exploitation of rape and other sexual crimes.
Describing the content as “too scorching”, the petitioner argued that “RPS is a type of sex crime. He presents kinky sex and the rape of K-pop male idols in an unspeakably explicit way, and countless male celebrities have been sexualized because of him. “
In two weeks, the petition garnered more than 213,000 signatures, forcing the presidential office to issue an official response, as it should for any petition that receives more than 200,000 responses.
Rappers Son Simba, BewhY and Rohann have expressed their fury at fan fiction putting celebrities in sex scenarios without their approval.
“Is it true that there are people who collectively cover or even support fiction and art that feature kinky sex involving real people who are forced into irresistible situations?” Son wrote on Instagram.
Strangely enough, K-pop boy groups have remained silent as they fear that becoming involved in the controversy could make the situation worse, damage their reputation, or even sabotage their careers.
“Speaking on behalf of the entertainment companies, we don’t want this to become a public issue because we have the most to lose, financially and in terms of reputation. Fans are able to tell idols what to do – because fandoms can make or break their careers, ”said Park Chan-jae, head of the Enterarts label.
“Idols and celebrities make a living from the love and attention of their fans and it is difficult to take action against the issue. While we don’t agree that RPS is part of fan culture, we value fans despite their gender identity or sexual orientation. “
On January 19, representative Ha Tae-keung of the opposition People’s Power Party filed a request for a police investigation into the creators and distributors of RPS at the Yeongdeungpo Police Station.
Calling the creators and distributors of RPS perpetrators of sex crimes, Ha wrote on Facebook, “RPS is not a conflict between men and women, but an issue between perpetrators and victims. Those who produce and distribute RPS content should be punished for raising awareness about this new type of sex crime. “
Following his request, the National Police Agency announced Monday that it would open an investigation. What was once accepted as a harmless idol culture has become an ethical issue, opening up the debate as to whether it can be considered a sex crime.
Kang Jin-seok, an entertainment lawyer at Yulwon law firm, said it was difficult to charge the creators and distributors of RPS with libel or contempt because there is no precedent and the situation may differ from case to case.
“Whether or not this qualifies as defamation or contempt depends on the specificity of the topic and the degree of fad in RPS. Simply depicting sex scenes in fiction, art, and memes is not enough. It should be specific enough that the person who has been sexually objectified can understand that the forged story or photo is about them, ”he said.
Kang also pointed out that creators can be prosecuted for RPS under the Law on Special Cases Regarding Punishment, etc., of Sex Crimes.
“If the content of the RPS is sufficiently credible and further distorts the truth about the person objectified in its content, then the court can rule in favor of the complainant and judge the RPS as a sex crime,” he said.
According to article 13 of the law, “a person who sends to another person words, sounds, writings, images, images or other things which could cause a feeling of shame or sexual aversion by telephone, mail, computer or other means of communication, with the intention of arousing or satisfying one’s own sexual urges or those of the other person, will be punished with imprisonment with hard labor of not more than two years or a fine not exceeding five million of won “($ 4,520).
Experts said the public should openly debate the level of seriousness or moral culpability of RPS.
“RPS involves the sexual exploitation of a person rather than consuming the music of a celebrity. If the degree of obscenity is severe, it should be punished rather than viewed as a fan culture, ”cultural critic Ha Jae-keun said.
“Since there are underage victims and the people directly involved may feel insulted by the content, we need to review the situation and legislate on a relevant law. “
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