The Moment of 'Sonjeol' Leads to Social Banishment... 'Cancel Culture' [News Terms]

Recently, there has been a clear movement of 'Cancel culture' online, where people are taking a stand against certain YouTubers embroiled in various controversies and unsubscribing from their channels. Representative cases include YouTubers Gujeokyeok and Karakula, who face allegations of extortion and audio manipulation against YouTuber Jjuyang, and YouTuber Dalssi, who is suspected of a rental scam bomb-throwing scheme.

YouTubers Gujeokyeok, Karakulla, Dalsi
[Photo source=YouTube screen capture]

'Cancel culture' is a compound word from the English words 'Cancel' and 'Culture.' In Korean, it is euphemized as 'deungdollim munhwa' (turning one's back culture). It is a collective phenomenon where a famous person with social influence is reported, criticized, or publicly shamed when they make controversial remarks or actions. The targets of cancel culture span all professions, including celebrities, politicians, YouTubers, and internet broadcasters.

In 2019, the Australian National Dictionary Centre selected cancel culture as the 'Word of the Year.' This shows that cancel culture has become an important phenomenon in modern society. While this phenomenon has the function of demanding immediate accountability, its nature of private censorship and public opinion manipulation makes it difficult to maintain objectivity and balance, and it shows limitations in efforts to achieve self-purification.

For example, when an unethical or immoral celebrity appears, people do not just 'deolduk' (stop enthusiastically supporting) or cancel their follow on YouTube channels and social networking services (SNS). They dig up and criticize the target's past remarks and actions. There is even a movement called 'social burial,' which aims to ruin their career, status, and life.

According to a survey on 'Perceptions of the Role of Celebrities and the Public's Right to Know' released by Korea Research in May, celebrities ranked third with 84% of respondents acknowledging their social influence, similar to politicians at 88% and businesspeople at 85%. Additionally, many respondents agreed that celebrities should obey the law (94%), exercise caution in their speech and refrain from reckless remarks (92%), and serve as role models for the public and youth (91%).

Broadcaster Sam Okyere from Ghana [Photo by YouTube screen capture]

Sam Okyere, a broadcaster from Ghana, said, "Cancel culture is quite strong in Korea," and revealed on the YouTube channel 'Jubilee' in January last year, "I was unable to work for two years." After pointing out the 'coffin dance parody' at Uijeongbu High School in August 2020 as racial discrimination and apologizing, he eventually left all broadcasts following continued controversy.

Meanwhile, some countries have introduced legislation to prohibit excessive cancel culture, citing concerns that it may infringe on freedom of expression. In May last year, foreign media including CNN reported that the Singapore government was pushing for a cancel culture ban law. K. Shanmugam, Singapore's Minister for Law, emphasized the legitimacy of the ban in a statement to CNN, saying, "There are people who are afraid to participate in reasonable public discourse because they fear being attacked for their views." However, some worry that this law could be misused as a tool to suppress opposition.