“I was used”… In the election season, celebrities and fans expressed ‘anger’ over the unauthorized use of stars.
In the election season of 2025, celebrities have been unwittingly summoned as tools of politics. Even a single photo, past advertisements, and phrases meant for fans are being distorted with political significance, prompting those involved to prepare for a strong response beyond mere displeasure.
Why is Seo Hyun-jin’s 9 years ago ad photo being used as an election poster?
On 4th, actress Seo Hyun-jin was embroiled in controversy after her face was used in an election image without her knowledge. Her agency firmly stated, “It’s just an advertisement photo from 9 years ago, not a photo for election use, and we have never received any requests.”
The image was confirmed to have been created and shared in a messenger group by supporters of a certain candidate, and the campaign side also distanced itself, stating that “the source is unknown.” However, Seo Hyun-jin found herself in a ridiculous situation, having to endure misunderstandings of support for a specific candidate without her consent.
Shin Ji “I won’t let this go this time” … Legal action anticipated against unauthorized political use.
The same goes for singer Shin Ji. On May 28, singer Shin Ji also exploded with anger when a past photo was used in a campaign. The photo posted on social media shows Shin Ji making a V sign at an event. However, the post included the phrase “Fighting for candidate No. 2 Kim Moon-soo!”
Shin Ji immediately stated, “I will inform the company and initiate legal action,” and indicated a strong response. He expressed, “It’s too unfair to just be victimized because I’m a celebrity,” stating, “This time, I plan not to let it pass,” showing his strong displeasure. Shin Ji has previously experienced cases of infringement of portrait rights, so this time he appears to be taking a firmer stance.
Karina, although a victim, is caught in the political controversy… Fans say, “Please draw a line.”
Karina, a member of the girl group aespa, was also embroiled in political controversy, leading to protests from fans. Earlier, Karina had posted a photo of herself in a red outfit with the number ‘2’ printed on it on her personal social media, which was misinterpreted politically, and she deleted the photo while clarifying the misunderstanding. However, Lee Jun-seok, a candidate from the Reform Party, shared articles and photos related to Karina on social media. The posts exposed Karina’s real name and image, who is a victim of sexual harassment.
In response, Karina’s fandom issued an official statement saying it resulted in “a repeated violation of the victim’s dignity” and protested to the candidate’s side. Even afterward, as she was mentioned in political circles, fans stepped up themselves, raising their voices to “stop the political exploitation.”
Did Netflix also get summoned for election promotion?… Controversy over unauthorized parody of candidate Kim Moon-soo.
Later, on June 3, the day of the main election, Kim Moon-soo, a candidate from the People Power Party, posted a parody poster of the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” on social media. The problem was that the image was produced without prior consultation. Netflix expressed its astonishment, stating, “There was no agreement,” and some fans also criticized, “Do not use the work and the actor in the election.”
Stars who have been used unlawfully for political promotion crossed a line. Simple clothing colors, old event photos, and images from advertisements have been misinterpreted as ‘political symbols’ in the election season. Celebrities at the center of this have never stated their political colors nor revealed their intentions, yet they are becoming targets of ‘political exploitation.’
Internet users and fans have clearly stated that “celebrities are public figures, but we do not want their images to be interpreted politically.” There are also calls for not only a strong legal response but an institutional safety net to protect the stars' images and rights.
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