Lyrics of "Geojeojulli Eomne Julli"... Minnochoong says "Satirical Defamation and Misogyny"

"Do Not Use Women as a Means to Criticize Male Power"

Singer Baekja's music video for "Nice Julie," written and composed by her / Photo by YouTube Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The Women’s Committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) criticized the song "Nice Julie," which defames Kim Gun-hee, the wife of Yoon Seok-yeol, a leading opposition presidential candidate, calling it "misogyny disguised as satire." "Nice Julie" was written and composed by Baekja, a singer belonging to the folk music group "Our Country," and the lyrics include allegations raised against Kim.

In a statement released on the 10th, the Women’s Committee said, "Baekja released a new song called 'Nice Julie' on her YouTube channel on July 29, attracting public attention," and criticized, "Through the song, Baekja mocked women by revealing misogyny with a typical dichotomy that divides women into saints and prostitutes, portraying Julie as a woman who seeks power through sexual favors and dreams of becoming the nation's mother."

Julie released the song and music video for "Nice Julie" on the YouTube channel "BaekjaTV" at the time. The song sparked controversy by expressing allegations related to Kim mentioned in the so-called "Yoon Seok-yeol X-file" in its lyrics.

Regarding this, the Women’s Committee pointed out, "What Baekja mocked was not the allegations surrounding former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol but womanhood itself," and questioned, "Why use women as a means and scapegoat to insult when criticizing the deep-rooted evils and corruption of male power?"

They continued, "Arguing for creative freedom here is anachronistic; although it is called satire, it ultimately justifies hatred and violence against women," emphasizing, "Hatred, disparagement, and contempt are clearly different from satire."

The so-called 'Julie Mural' painted in an alley in Jongno, Seoul, at the end of last month / Photo by Seulgi Yoon, Intern Reporter seul97@asiae.co.kr

They added, "In a presidential race lacking policies and vision, the election is being stirred up with misogyny, and the people’s singer who has lived as a folk artist is enjoying added value and reproducing violence at the forefront, causing women among the people to experience despair once again."

The lyrics of "Nice Julie" include phrases such as "No free Julie for the noble people of Seocho-dong," "Nice Julie," "Ace of the broker," and "A woman dreaming of becoming the nation's mother." Julie is a name mentioned in the Yoon Seok-yeol X-file, and some claim that Kim used the stage name Julie while working as a hostess at entertainment establishments in the past.

Kim refuted this in an interview with the online media "Newsbus" on June 30, saying, "Someone wrote a novel (fiction)."

However, the "Julie controversy" has flared up several times since then. At the end of last month, a phrase "Julie’s Men" and a face resembling Kim’s were painted on the outer wall of a used bookstore in Jongno-gu, Seoul, sparking controversy.

The building owner, Ms. Yeo, who led the mural’s creation, said in an interview with a media outlet, "(The mural) falls within the realm of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution," and retorted, "Can’t you even do satire?"

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