Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

K-Pop World Festival under fire over Israeli participation, artwashing

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 10 Jul 2024 14:30
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

South Korea's BDS movement calls out KBS' ignorance, highlighting its inappropriateness to hold the festival during an ongoing genocide on occupied land.

Listen
  • x
  • Audience cheering for a professional K-pop band performing between rounds of amateurs, undated. (AFP)
    The audience cheers for a professional K-Pop band performing between rounds of amateurs, undated. (AFP)

"Israel's" participation in the annual K-Pop World Festival has fans around the world accusing Seoul's Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) of "artwashing genocide" and sparking a series of boycott calls of the music genre.

The hashtags #KpopFestivalOutWithZionism and #NoToArtwashingInKpop appeared on social media by angered K-pop fans following the South Korean embassy in "Israel's" promotion of the July auditions. 

"The South Korean government & KBS is now complicit in the genocide in Gaza being art washed by allowing Israeli settlers from the settler colony to have a spot in the K-Pop World Festival," an X user wrote, adding, "Do not remain silent about this."

"Artwashing in the middle of a genocide is a new fucking low, even for KBS. Participants and guest performers will never wash off this stain," wrote another user.

Artwashing is the use of art and artists in a positive manner to distract or legitimize negative actions, events, or human rights violations. In the case of "Israel", the occupation is participating in the festival to distract attention from their ongoing genocide in Gaza.

South Korea's BDS (boycott, sanctions and divestments) movement X page called out KBS' ignorance, highlighting its inappropriateness to hold the festival during an ongoing genocide on occupied land. In addition, it urged its followers to file official complaints to the Korean embassy in "Israel" and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Palestinians are being burned alive and murdered in "Israel", and you want to watch the genocide in real time and enjoy a K-pop festival with Israelis?" the account asked on X, noting Palestinian K-pop fans have also been killed by "Israel".

X user ARMY4PALESTINE, an account managed by pro-Palestinian fans for the popular K-pop band BTS, wrote: "The settler colony is trying to artwash apartheid, genocide and their violations of Palestinian human rights again, as it is a big part of their propaganda strategy."

Related News

Syria's al-Sharaa: Security deal with 'Israel' is a necessity

Riyadh strengthens Saudi Arabia-Pakistan ties with new defense pact

The festival is a global event organized by each participating country's Korean embassy, intended to promote both K-pop and South Korea on a global scale. The selected finalists will then attend the final festival in South Korea's southern city of Changwon in October.

'Israel's' artwashing continues...

The K-Pop World Festival is not the only event "Israel" showcased its artwashing skills to distract from their ongoing ten-month genocide in the Gaza Strip that has killed up to 186,000 Palestinians. 

Despite not being a part of Europe, the occupation has participated in the European song contest Eurovision 45 times since 1973. 

Thousands of demonstrators supporting the Palestinian cause and protesting the ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza congregated in the Swedish city of Malmo on May 8 to oppose "Israel's" participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The demonstration coincided with the city's hosting of the competition's second semi-final, during which Israeli representative, Eden Golan, performed.

During a rehearsal of her song "Hurricane" on May 8, Golan faced jeers from the audience.

Before Golan's performance, more than 12,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on the streets, as per the Swedish police.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among the attendees at the pro-Palestinian demonstration, emphasizing, as quoted by BBC, the moral imperative to speak out and take action against Israeli aggression in Gaza.

"If we are tens of thousands of people flooding the streets of Malmo when Eurovision is taking place, saying we will not accept this to continue, then it's a very strong signal – and it does make a difference," Thunberg said.

  • Israel
  • Music festival
  • South Korea
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
UKLFI’s latest faux pas, like "Israel’s" recent failed attempt at regime change in Iran, is unambiguously indicative of a flailing entity on the verge of extinction. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Zionist lawfare operation facing collapse?

  • Opinion
  • 13 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS