"Konggomul Armband... The Power of Progress" An Chi-hwan, Did He Criticize the Progressive Camp in His New Song 'Irony'?

"Time Has Passed and Our Faces Have Hardened"
Leading Progressive Folk Singer An Chi-hwan Releases New Song
Some View Lyrics as Criticism Targeting Progressive Forces
"It's Not About Sides, But About Right and Wrong"

Singer An Chi-hwan [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] An Chi-hwan (55), known as a folk singer, has released a new song containing sharp criticism aimed at opportunists who parasitize so-called power, sparking opinions that he is directly criticizing the progressive camp. In particular, there are views that the song targets the Moon Jae-in administration. Amid various controversies, An clarified that this album deals with issues of right and wrong and does not specify progressives or conservatives.

An is known as a 'pro-government leaning' singer after performing "In the Wilderness" at the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (the predecessor of the Democratic Party) party convention in February 2015, when Moon Jae-in was elected party leader. Ahead of the 19th presidential election in March 2017, he was invited to the Honam primary to select the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, where he also sang "Morning Dew."

On the 7th, An released his self-composed song "Irony." In the song, An criticizes the progressive camp for degenerating into opportunists with lyrics such as "Flattering the power with blinded eyes / Wearing the armband of crumbs / The power of progress grew oneself / Irony, all this irony, what's the difference? / Get lost, you opportunist."

Through other lyrics, he points out, "Power belongs to those who crave it, but they are shameless. Whether then or now, the vitality of opportunists is truly astonishing," and asks, "For whom is the power of citizens, the power of progress? Irony."

In the 'planning intention' revealed upon releasing the new song, An said, "Time has passed, and our faces have grown thick-skinned," adding, "The purity of that day has aged and grown old. Some purity has dulled and become insidious."

When controversy arose over whether he was criticizing the progressive camp through these lyrics, An explained in an interview with Kyunghyang Shinmun on the same day, "It is a story about opportunists who parasitize power, dream of fame, and pursue profit," and clarified the meaning of the song by saying, "It is not about your side or my side, but about viewing the world through the lens of right and wrong."

In an interview with Hankyoreh, he emphasized, "I criticized opportunists, not the entire progressive camp," and urged, "Conservative media should not distort the song."

He continued, "The progressive camp came to power through the power of citizens (candlelight protests), but seeing opportunists who only looked out for their own interests without fighting when democracy was at stake reminded me of 'Irony.'"

An Chi-hwan is a 1984 graduate of Yonsei University’s Department of Social Work and was active in the group "People Looking for Songs" (Nohchatsa). He received much love for lyrical songs such as "People Are More Beautiful Than Flowers." In May, he also released "When Spring Comes," a song about Gwangju in May, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Before Nohchatsa, he was active in Yonsei University's song club "Woolimteo" and the Minjung Cultural Movement Union's singing group "Saebyeok."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.