Given the sensitivity of the Palestine-Israel war, most public figures have chosen to stay silent on the issue to avoid getting involved in controversy or getting “cancelled”.
Previously, we listed several K-pop idols who faced intense backlash for supporting Israel. However, several other idols have openly shown support for Palestine. Here are the idols whom netizens have praised for their political stance:
KARD BM (카드 비엠)
The KARD member tweeted on his birthday (19th October), “While I’m able to celebrate another birthday, there are too many innocent people in Gaza losing that privilege. Please pray for all the lives lost and lives desperately seeking an end to this.” Many fans thanked the idol for speaking up on the matter, especially since many other idols are choosing to stay silent regarding the war.
SHINee Jonghyun (샤이니 종현)
Many fans remember the late SHINee member as an outspoken idol, even showing support for the LGBTQ+ community and speaking up on topics like mental health during an era when such issues were considered taboo. In 2014, the late idol tweeted an image of the Gaza Strip taken from space, with the captions, “The only word that can express the emotion coming up in my uneasy heart is the word ‘hideous”.
BTS RM (방탄소년단 알앰)
Like Jonghyun, BTS’ leader RM has spoken up on topics considered taboo for idols, like mental health and hate crimes against minorities. While he has never directly voiced his support, the idol has shown support for Palestine through art, including attending an art exhibition curated by Palestinian art dealer Fayez Barakat. RM also owns several pieces of Pro-Palestine work by Banksy, including the iconic Flower Thrower (a.k.a Flower Bomber, Rage, or Love Is In the Air).
BTS V (뷔)
Another BTS member who has shown support for Palestine through art is V. In September of this year, the vocalist attended a Banksy and Keith Haring exhibition in Seoul and shared an image of the Flower Thrower artwork on display. As V is known for his love of art and has noted that the Banksy piece was his favourite, he is likely aware of the meaning behind the piece and what it represents.
THE BOYZ Kevin (더보이즈 케빈)
Kevin was previously cancelled over a misunderstanding after an old video from a live stream resurfaced amidst the current political climate. However, not long after the live stream, the idol clarified that he does not support any form of oppression and has since been vocal about his support for Palestine.
The vocalist has also mentioned that his support has to be limited due to the nature of his work but encourages fans to learn about the subject and spread awareness. Kevin has also posted a set of four hearts in the colours of the Palestinian flag.
Yoon Mirae (윤미래)
Korean-American Yoon Mirae has been a vocal advocate for multiple causes, including children’s rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Through her Instagram Stories, she has posted about the ongoing war between Palestine and Israel, showing support for the former. The female rapper reposted an image from the pro-Palestine non-profit organisation, Visualizing Palestine, urging to stop the violence towards innocent civilians.
iKON (아이콘)
While iKON member Ju-ne (구준회) was previously slammed by netizens for his ignorance about the political tension between Palestine and Israel, the group’s debut album “Welcome Back” did include an image that read “Save The Palestine”. The image depicted was of the Greenpoint “Save The Palestine” water tower in New York and was part of an inclusion in the album.
eaJ (former Day6 member Jae) (제이)
Another outspoken idol in the industry is eaJ, a.k.a Jae. While the former Day6 (데이식스) member was called out last year for making unsavoury comments about fellow K-Pop Star alumnus Jamie (박지민), many of his fans have noted that the idol is open to criticism and has apologised for his actions. In 2021, eaJ shared a thread on ways to help Palestine and the crisis victims following the outbreak of violence towards Palestinians by Israeli soldiers.
Jay Park (박재범)
Admittedly, Jay Park doesn’t have the best reputation amongst Muslim (or even Malaysian) K-pop fans because of a past controversy involving his song lyrics. However, the soloist has voiced support for Palestine after the 2021 Palestine-Israel crisis through his old Instagram account. Before deactivating his account, Jay reposted an image which wrote, “You don’t need to be Muslim to stand up for Gaza, you just need to be human.”
Honourable Mentions:
BTS Jimin (지민)
Like his fellow BTS members, Jimin has also shown support for Palestine through the Banksy artwork. He posted an image of the Flower Thrower in 2015 on BTS’s now-defunct fan cafe.
BLACKPINK Jennie (블랙핑크 제니)
The BLACKPINK member has also used Banksy’s art to show her support. Fans noted that Jennie once picked out the artist’s autobiographical art exhibition book ‘Wall and Piece” at a bookstore. The book includes commentaries of Banksy’s works, including the pro-Palestine Flower Thrower.
