Fans have grown alarmed over a recent post by APRIL's Jinsol where the 18-year-old expressed discomfort over being objectified by netizens.
In her recent post, Jinsol shared how much she hated gifs that slowed down scenes where she was walking or dancing while wearing a short skirt. The APRIL member said that it made her uneasy when she searched for her name online and saw videos like that.
Netizens expressed support and said that Jinsol must be respected as a woman. Some fans said that netizens must learn their limits because celebrities like APRIL maknae Jinsol are also people who suffer from embarassment and hurt.
Fans have become more aware of the mental health of Kpop idols after the deaths of former f(x) member Sulli and former KARA member Goo Hara in October and November. The stars were only in their twenties when they were suspected to have taken their lives. Fans believe that the two friends succumbed to the pressures of stardom and the uncompromising standards set by fans on celebrities.
It was believed by experts that fans' constant criticisms and constant online bullying pushed the idols to end their ordeal with an extreme solution. It can be recalled that Sulli was a regular subject of criticism for her outspoken nature and her liberated fashion choices. Goo Hara reportedly suffered through depression after her public battle with her ex-boyfriend who threatened to release their intimate videos and ruin her reputation.
"Koreans have only had internationally known stars for a few decades, so they are even less equipped to deal with this kind of thing. That, and the taboo against seeking psychiatric care, all but guarantees that these kinds of tragedies will keep happening unless there is a fundamental societal change," Euny Hong, author of The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering the World with Pop Culture, said in a Yahoo Lifestyle interview.
As a result, lawmakers have proposed the Sulli Act to address the growing problem of malicious commenters and abusive netizens who spread rumors and false information to defame other people, especially celebrities.
One of the key debates about the proposed measure is the real name mandate where netizens will be required to use their real names when they post on forums and threads to encourage internet users to post comments responsibly. This will also promote transparency and help law enforcement officials track down abusive netizens to hold them accountable for their online infractions.
According to the proponents of the law, Sulli's death could be considered as s social murder because news outfits and cyberbullies collectively trampled on her human dignity in the guise of freedom of the press. They underscored the need to establish a societal solution to the inhumane culture permeating the internet and sanctions are needed for this to gain traction, South China Morning Post reported.
