He emphasized the pain of victims' families and criticized secondary harm.
He is currently active as the vocalist for the band Shin Chiryu.
Singer Harim has taken a strong stand against critical remarks about the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. He revealed on social media that he received a mocking message from a netizen stating, 'May 18 was a riot.' Harim emphasized that as someone who belongs to a family affected by the Gwangju events, such comments represent a clear 'secondary harm.'
Instead of reacting emotionally to the derogatory message, Harim chose to block the sender. He clarified, 'I did not run away; I maintained my dignity as a family member of the victims,' expressing his hope that he will no longer hear such insulting remarks.
Hailing from Gwangju, Harim debuted in 2001 and is currently the vocalist for the band Shin Chiryu. He is also recognized as an artist who speaks out on social issues.
Harim's response transcends personal reaction, projecting an artist's social responsibility. The Gwangju Uprising holds significant historical value in Korea, making any dismissive remarks a sensitive issue. Through his response, Harim reflects his identity and shares the pain of the victims' families.
His choice illustrates the importance of peaceful responses instead of violence, reinforcing the dignity and meaning of resistance as a family member of victims. This highlights Harim's influence beyond musical expression and into social realms.
Concurrent with this, Harim's remarks spark necessary discussions about fandom and pop culture. Such discussions can greatly impact younger generations, serving as a call to redefine cultural identity in today's context.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: DB
