South Korean broadcasting stations have prohibited several provocative or sexual K-pop songs or videos due to a history of media control and conservatism in the country. Other reasons for the ban include the presence of Japanese lyrics, the potential to negatively influence youth, and the usage of brand names.
The following is a partial list of K-pop videos that have been banned by one or more South Korean television networks due to inappropriate or provocative lyrics or visuals. K-pop is a popular music genre that originated in South Korea. K-pop singles often feature a music video and a dance routine, and it is distinguished by a wide range of audiovisual elements.
South Korean broadcasting stations have prohibited several provocative or sexual K-pop songs or videos due to a history of media control and conservatism in the country. Other reasons for the ban include the presence of Japanese lyrics, the potential to negatively influence youth, and the usage of brand names.
The three largest broadcasting and television networks, KBS, MBC, and SBS, are responsible for the great majority of banned K-pop videos. In the three years leading up to September 2012, these networks had blacklisted approximately 1,300 K-pop songs. This list only contains titular K-pop songs with a music video, but many K-pop songs that are not title tracks have also been banned.
The entertainment company that owns the banned music will frequently try to alter it and have it evaluated by the broadcasting company. They could re-release the music video after editing it to remove the problematic sections.
They may even tweak the explicit dance steps or lyrics of a song so that it can still be played on music shows like Music Bank. When EXO’s song ‘Lotto’ was banned because the title was a brand name, the group sang the word ‘louder’ instead of ‘lotto’ while performing the song live. The song was able to be performed on KBS and MBC music shows with this edit.
Although KBS frequently bans K-pop songs and videos, MBC and SBS are less likely to do so. Some bands are content to market themselves on networks other than KBS and do not alter their original material in any way.
In the case of PSY’s ‘Gentlemen,’ a YG Entertainment spokeswoman stated that they had no plans to submit a new version of the video and that they would follow KBS’ decision.
