South Korean candidates embrace song to pull votes

of South Korean election law and history, almost every candidate on the campaign trail has a theme song, a dance routine, and politicallytweaked lyrics to make their message hit home.

From K-pop chart toppers to Ǯ 4 # -&ǯǡ ./$'' /# 2*-' ǭ. most-watched song on Youtube, seemingly no music is safe from a South Korean political makeover.

/ - ''4 !*- (* - /$ -/4 ' 2( & - ( )Ƕ.**)Ǡ -0))$)" !*- !*0-/# / -( $) *Ʀ $)

*0'ǭ. *)"+ $./-$ /Ǡ (+ $") speeches were interspersed with ear-splitting blasts of music, as 0)$!*-( (+ $") ./ ƥ + -formed choreographed moves.

“This kind of campaigning # '+. - $. 1*/ -.ǭ $)/ - ./Ǡǯ ( . $ !*- ) 3/ 2 &ǭ. + -'$ mentary election.

Ǯ ) *)1 4 (4 ( .. "and policy promises through the campaign songs,” she said, adding that the tunes were carefully selected, and the lyrics thoughtfully re-worked, to help her engage with constituents.

This election cycle, Nam had chosen a hit K-pop song called “Jilpoonggado” — which means “Stormy Road” in English — for her campaign.

The original lyrics, which speak of giving people courage against a storm, were tweaked to request “storming courage” for the candidate, and end with: “ballot )0( - ƭ ( )Ƕ.**)Ǥ # -$"#/ person to lead Songpa”.

But the campaign also used Baby Shark and a few “trott” hits — a kind of slower K-pop, popular with older South Korean listeners — to cover their bases.

“We chose songs that can appeal to a wide range of age groups,” Nam said.

K-pop campaigning is not only gruelling work for the candidates:

(+ $") #*- *"- +# - $( $Ƕ ran performs an elaborate dance routine three times a day, every day for around two weeks before the vote, everywhere Nam goes.

“The party headquarters gave us some guidelines, but the can

$ / ǭ. ./ ƥ # 1 '*/ *! $sion-making power,” over song selection and dance routines, said Kim, who is not a full-time dancer but works as a civil activist outside election time.

Ǯ / '& /* # - ./ ƥ /* $ on a set of songs that go well with the candidate and choreographed accordingly,” she said.

One of the songs, by a K-pop girl duo called Davichi, which is called Yeoseong Shidae or “Wom

)ǭ. - ǯǡ 2 . #*. ) . ( ). of hammering home the fact Nam is a rare female candidate in a sea of male politicians.

Only 14 per cent of candidates running for the April 10 vote are women, and just 19 per cent of .$//$)" . - ! ( ' !-*( ƯƬƬ seats.

Ǯ *'$/$ . ) *( -*.. . boring and not interesting,” Kim said.

Ǯ /#$)& /#$. 0'/0- ' ++-* # to the election campaigning can be a positive thing for the voters.

) ! ' + *+' - - ''4 3 $/ when they see us — and they join $) ) $)"Ǥǯ

But under South Korean election law, all candidates are allowed to hold campaign events in /# *)./$/0 ) 4ǭ. ./- /. 0-$)" a set two-week period before the 1*/ Ǡ *) /# *) $/$*) /# 4 *)ǭ/ violate a 127-decibel noise limit — a level similar to a rock concert.

THE ELECTION CYCLE, NAM HAD CHOSEN A HIT K-POP SONG CALLED ‘JILPOONGGADO’ — WHICH MEANS ‘STORMY ROAD’ IN ENGLISH — FOR HER CAMPAIGN. THE ORIGINAL LYRICS WERE TWEAKED TO REQUEST ‘STORMING COURAGE’ FOR THE CANDIDATE, AND END WITH: “BALLOT NUMBER 1 NAM INSOON!