Why Celebrities Are Steering Clear of the ‘V’ Sign (✌️)




The campaign period for the presidential election has begun, igniting a debate over political gestures within the entertainment sector. With South Korea’s 21st presidential election on the horizon, idols are being particularly wary of their hand gestures and poses.

On May 27, NMIXX members Bae and Sullyoon conducted a YouTube live stream. Bae initially made a playful gesture by flashing a V (✌️) sign but quickly exclaimed, “No! Don’t do the V!” and clutched her head in panic.

Sullyoon also attempted to alleviate the situation with a similar pose. For a challenge ending pose, she hesitantly made a V sign, but then, worried about its potential political implications, she quickly displayed all numbers from 1 to 5 using her fingers instead.

In the context of South Korean elections, the V sign can symbolize support for the conservative People Power Party, which aligns with the number 2 on the ballot and the color red. This connection exists because the gesture resembles the number 2, leading to worries that it may be interpreted as an endorsement of a specific political party.

On the same day, TXT shared a photo on their official Japanese social media platform, showcasing a neutral stance. Instead of the commonly used V sign from pre-election times, all members clenched their fists and gazed directly at the camera.

Virtual group PLAVE also faced misinterpretations regarding politically sensitive gestures. During a group photo on their May 24 YouTube live stream, members carefully positioned their fingers while posing.

ZEROBASEONE’s Kim Tae Rae quickly edited a selfie on May 26, where he had shared a V sign picture with the caption “I’m in Korea” via the fan interaction app Bubble.

Approximately a minute later, he followed up with a message saying, “Oh right. I heard we shouldn’t do the V sign during this season,” and added, “I’ll neutralize it with my blue phone case.” He later deleted the photo after this clarification.

That same day, fellow group member Sung Han Bin maintained a neutral pose during the Mnet ‘World of Dance’ press conference. Rather than the requested “cheek poke” pose, he chose the “dumpling pose” by placing a fist against his cheek.

After the press event, he went live on Instagram, stating, “Given the situation right now… I thought doing the cheek poke pose might be misinterpreted,” indicating he was deliberately avoiding any potentially controversial gestures during the election period.

Likewise, idols are avoiding other hand gestures that may be construed as understated expressions of political backing for any particular party or candidate. Unfortunately, even non-Korean members are not free from this scrutiny. RIIZE’s Shotaro, for instance, was seen rapidly altering his hand gesture after reacting in surprise.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s presidential election is set for June 3, 2025. Unlike the usual winter timing, this election will occur in June, following Yoon Suk Yeol‘s impeachment on December 4, 2024.

SEE ALSO: Why K-Pop idols refrain from holding up the ‘peace’ sign during South Korea’s presidential elections