K-pop and breakdance power South Korea’s high-stakes presidential race

SEOUL – In South Korea’s high-stakes presidential campaign, K-pop is not just a cultural backdrop – it is a political strategy.

Both major parties are leaning on Korean pop hits to energise voters, blending choreography and catchy lyrics with political messaging. Among the favourites at campaign rallies are Kim Jong-kook’s Loveable and Young Tak’s Next Door Oppa, which are now fixtures at events across the country.

But unlike the last US presidential election, where former vice-president Kamala Harris secured endorsements from Beyonce and Taylor Swift, South Korean artistes have shied away from direct campaigning that risks alienating fans.

The opposition Democratic Party has deployed a 48-member “Shouting Korea” team, which travels nationwide in mobile units designed to create festive, street-level rallies. Their goal is to produce crowd-friendly events using choreography and classic Korean pop songs before and after party nominee Lee Jae-myung takes the stage.

The conservative People Power Party has taken a similar approach, with candidate Kim Moon-soo’s campaign team choosing retro hits like Loveable over songs by current idols. 

“Kim’s frequent use of heart gestures inspired us to highlight a ‘loveable’ image, playing on the song’s message to enhance his public appeal,” said Mr Kim Dong-hwan, a PPP campaign official.

South Koreans head to the polls on June 3 after six months of political turmoil, hoping a new leader can begin to heal a fractured nation.

The snap vote comes after impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol was removed by the Constitutional Court in April for his abrupt decision to declare martial law.

The state of the economy and fighting US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are among the hot topics for voters, according to recent opinion surveys. Lee had 49 per cent support while Mr Kim Moon-soo trailed with 36 per cent in a survey of 1,005 people commissioned by local media outlet News1 and released this week.

“This election follows a period of martial law and impeachment,” said Mr Kim Dae-young, a Democratic Party official. “There were debates about including strong political messages, but we decided instead to build a space where people could gather naturally – through music, dance and video.” 

The campaign’s set list draws heavily on late-1990s and early-2000s pop pieces chosen for their energy and broad appeal. These include Koyote’s Pure Love and diva Uhm Jung-hwa’s Festival, both songs from 1999. 

Professional dancer Yim Young-hwan, who was hired by the liberal party to join the campaign, has choreographed several of the performances. The dance routines are deliberately simple, with occasional flourishes to grab attention, and to make it easy for people to follow. “We wanted people to say ‘Wow’ when they saw us,” Yim said.

Lyrics are often adapted to highlight the candidate’s character or policy goals. And choosing older tracks instead of licensing new idol music from the big K-pop companies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe reduces costs, according to PPP campaign official Kim.

Licensing fees per song could reach about three million won (S$2,800) to tens of millions of won, depending on the song’s popularity.

While TV and radio still play a role, Mr Kim Dong-hwan noted that digital content now dominates political engagement. Candidate Kim Moon-soo has appeared on major YouTube shows and launched a dedicated channel featuring a 13-song playlist to court online audiences. 

Despite the digital pivot, the energy of in-person street performances still resonates with many voters.

“When young people perform like this, it lifts the older generation’s spirits,” said Seoul resident Lee Soo-young, who joined Lee Jae-myung’s campaign. BLOOMBERG