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BTS singers V and RM: "We do not have the authority to ban K-Pop"
Photo: Rich Fury / Getty Images
It was probably three girls from the Istanbul district of Hadımköy who finally brought the South Korean form of pop culture into the view of the Turkish mass public. The two sisters and their friend, 11, 13 and 15 years old, ran away from home on August 9th. After they were found the next day, it was said that the girls wanted to travel to South Korea. The father of one of the runaways denied the destination Korea, but admitted that his daughter would like to hear K-pop.
According to a report in the Milliyet newspaper, the Turkish government has since targeted K-Pop, which has attracted millions of fans around the world in recent years.
The Ministry of Family Affairs is examining whether Korean pop culture alienates young people from traditional values and removes them from their families.
The government investigation is based on the nationalist thesis that popular cultures from all over the world have a bad influence on young people via the Internet.
By means of these trends and well-connected and ardent fans, other countries would secure a good image for themselves, the newspaper quotes a ministerial voice (here is a summary in English): “Korean pop bands arouse worldwide admiration for their images, their music and the effective use of social media . "
Advice via Whatsapp requested
The analysis of the "BTS-Army" and comparable fan groups does not seem to stop there.
As »Milliyet« reports further, the ministry has invited the operators of social networks that are active in Turkey for talks.
The aim is to find out how platform providers can help combat the influence of online content on young people.
Such a request was confirmed by a platform for the "Al-Monitor" portal operated from the USA.
»Al-Monitor« sees the fact that K-Pop is now under special observation in the context of anti-LGBTQI rhetoric widespread in Turkey; a columnist for the right-wing Turkish newspaper "Yeni Akit" rated the K-pop stars BTS as subversive forces to build a "genderless society". Many of the singers from groups like BTS have an androgynous look, and BTS member Kim Nam-joon alias RM spoke at the United Nations in 2018: “No matter who you are, where you come from, your skin color, your gender identity - speak for yourself".
The Turkish Ministry of Family Affairs wants to "fight harmful online content" with a special social media monitoring group to keep an eye on activities that it classifies as harmful to young people.
The population is called on to help with tips - the number of a Whatsapp account has been published.
There should be guidelines for parents that warn of digital risks.
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Family Minister Yanık: "No Authority to Ban K-Pop"
Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
Family minister Derya Yanık said in an interview with Turkish TV broadcaster NTV that her house had been studying popular cultural practices that children may be interested in - not just South Korean ones.
However, one will pursue things that could have a negative impact on children: »We do not have the authority to ban K-Pop.
What we do is to follow up on the content and, if necessary, to initiate legal proceedings, «said the Family Minister.
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