'Mamamoo Hwasa, Involved in Obscenity Performance Controversy, Summoned for Police Investigation'

Decision Pending on Whether to Transfer Case Applying 'Public Indecency' Charges

Hwasa (real name Ahn Hye-jin, 28), a member of the group Mamamoo, who was accused of performing an obscene act on a university festival stage, was summoned for police questioning.

According to reports from Yonhap News on the 10th, the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul summoned Hwasa for questioning as a suspect at the end of last month. The police reportedly asked Hwasa about the intent behind the performance.

The police plan to soon determine whether the performance was obscene and decide whether to forward the case for prosecution.

Hwasa appeared on the stage of Sungkyunkwan University’s festival on May 12 while filming the cable channel tvN variety show ‘Dance Singer Wanderers.’ During the performance, Hwasa improvised choreography that involved licking her finger with her tongue and then caressing a specific body part.

The broadcast showed reactions from Lee Hyori and Kim Wan-sun but did not air the act itself. However, after the broadcast, the act spread on social media (SNS) in the form of ‘fancams’ (videos filmed directly by fans), sparking controversy over its sexual suggestiveness.

In response, the Student-Parent Human Rights Protection Coalition (Hak-in-yeon) filed a complaint with the police on June 22, stating that "Hwasa’s act is sufficient to evoke feelings of shame and disgust among the public who witnessed it by reminding them of perverted sexual acts."

The police have summoned both the complainant and Hwasa for investigation and are reviewing whether the performance is subject to criminal punishment after receiving related materials from the agency.

If obscene acts are performed in places where an unspecified number of people can see, the performer can be punished under the crime of public obscenity with up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 5 million won, detention, or a minor fine.

However, legal judgments on obscenity are fluid depending on changes in the times and the intent and context of the act, so attention is focused on whether Hwasa will be punished. The Supreme Court has set the standard that "from the perspective of an average member of society, the overall content should be objectively and normatively evaluated according to sound social norms."

Previously, there have been other cases where stage performances sparked controversy over sexual suggestiveness and were subject to investigation by authorities.

In December 2009, G-Dragon (real name Kwon Ji-yong, then 21) performed at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, showing dance moves reminiscent of sexual intercourse, prompting the Ministry of Health and Welfare to request an investigation.

At that time, the prosecution deferred indictment of G-Dragon, judging that "although it was suggestive, the direct depiction of sexual intercourse lasted only a few seconds and did not reach the level of obscenity." A deferred indictment is a disposition given when there is suspicion of a crime but no need to formally indict.

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