Student Council: "Unrelated to the School... Please Refrain from Criticizing Students"
School: "Legal Action May Be Considered if Necessary"
At the festival of Choongam High School in Seoul, a famous rapper sparked controversy by mentioning former President Yoon Suk-yeol and chanting the slogan "Yoon Again!"
On November 1, videos began circulating on social media and other platforms showing rapper Jung Sangsoo (41) performing on stage at the Choongam High School festival, "Choongamje," which was held on October 31.
During his performance, Jung conducted an impromptu interview with a student and asked, "What is Choongam High School proud of?" The student cautiously replied, "Yoon Suk-yeol." Jung immediately responded, "I was holding myself back from saying that, but since you did, I will too," and proceeded to shout "Yoon Again!" twice in succession. "Yoon Again" is a slogan used by supporters who wish for former President Yoon to return to power.
It is reported that there were approximately 1,000 people at the venue at the time, including about 800 Choongam High School students and 200 students from other schools. While some students cheered, the video also captured members of the student council, who were organizing the festival near the stage, appearing flustered and quickly leaving the area. Since the festival was organized by the student council, it appears that they had to respond to this unexpected situation.
The video spread rapidly across online communities and social media, fueling criticism. The majority of reactions stated, "Making political statements at a high school event is inappropriate," and "Even if it was meant to liven up the atmosphere, it crossed the line."
As the controversy grew, the Choongam High School student council released an official statement on November 1. The student council clarified, "The remarks in question do not represent the position of the school or the festival, and there was no prior agreement regarding them." They emphasized, "Once again, we would like to make it clear that these were the personal remarks of Jung Sangsoo." The statement continued, "We ask that you refrain from criticizing Choongam High School or its students. Please help ensure students can safely dream about their futures."
The school also lodged a complaint with Jung's side after the event and is reportedly considering legal action if necessary. Lee Yoonchan, principal of Choongam High School, told OhmyNews, "I cannot hide my dismay that a rapper invited by the Choongam High School student council made such an unexpected political appeal at the school festival."
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