In a heated response to a misleading social media post, Shinji, a member of the legendary K-pop group Koyote, has taken a firm stand against the misuse of her image. The incident began when a user circulated an older photo of Shinji, misrepresenting it to falsely claim that she supports a certain presidential candidate ahead of the upcoming election.
In an impassioned message on her personal social media, she wrote, *“Some people are really unbelievable. I feel like this keeps happening because our laws aren’t strong enough. But I’m not just going to let it slide this time simply because I’m a celebrity. It’s too unfair.”*
The controversy escalated when the netizen shared an image of themselves alongside Shinji, who is seen smiling and flashing a V-sign—a gesture often linked with political endorsement during election seasons in South Korea. However, Shinji clarified that this particular photo was taken long ago and had no political connotation.
Addressing the individual directly, she stated, *“This photo is from a long time ago, and I believe I took it for you after an event with no political intent whatsoever. If you continue using it like this, I will report it to my company and pursue legal action. Please take the photo down.”*
As election season approaches, the scrutiny of gestures like thumbs-ups and V-signs grows ever more intense, leaving public figures concerned about how their images are manipulated for political gains. Shinji’s decisive action illustrates the increasing vigilance among artists regarding the sanctity of their likenesses, especially in politically charged climates.
