TWICE Jihyo’s Accessory Sparks Intense Political Debate Among Fans
TWICE leader Jihyo is facing backlash after posting a photo wearing a hat with a bold political message.
The controversy began when Jihyo shared an Instagram close-up of herself in a halter-neck top, jeans, and a black baseball cap. The cap’s lettering was partly covered with orange emojis, but fans quickly identified it as saying “United Against Fascism.”
The hat is from the Radical Media Archive project, which features “rare printed matter born from protest, imagination, and collective belief.” The exact hat Jihyo wore has since sold out on their website.
Fans quickly reacted, praising Jihyo for endorsing an anti-fascism message despite K-pop idols often avoiding political statements.
Oh to be Jihyo
Gorgeous, talented, in Italian fields, and wearing an Anti Fascism hat
— J () (@j3ybias)
The concept of jihyo using oranges (the most common way to describe trump) to censor and basically call trump a fascist is exactly what i want to see
— (@itsalwayschuu)
When our president can’t say she’s Antifascista but Park Jihyo CAN
— 햇살⁷原⁵⁸ (@Sun5hine_blue)
Soon after, criticism emerged over Jihyo censoring the word “Fascism” with emojis and eventually deleting the post.
lmao i love ji*yo but is the idol image so precious that you need to blur out the word “fascism” in a hat that says “united against fascism” lmao like why are u even wearing it then
— t (@shimulacra)
we’re back to idols can’t say anything political to protect their careers discourse in light of.. jihyo censoring the word fascism on her united against fascism cap. incredible stuff
— mingyu: CHECK PLEASE! (@sonmattaego)
ya praising this but if she actually did endorse this then there’s no point in censoring and censoring it means she and her team knows what that means
— ???????????????????????? (@AgentSheryl)
Fans defended Jihyo, explaining the need for self-censorship due to South Korea’s sensitive political climate.
jihyo censoring the word “fascism” makes so much sense, because last year sokor made a list of leftist idols and censored them, nobody would want to get censored in their own country. so let’s not make a big deal out of this
— ???????? (@zyopjm)
Hey once.
As someone who always supports her, I’d like to ask for your understanding. In Korea, political messages—whether leanings are left or right—can be an incredibly tricky and sensitive issue. In my view, that is why she chose to censor her own Insta post with a sticker.…
— 효모된모찌 (@hyomohan_mozzi)
the censor is funny but i cant even blame korean celebs considering the stupid contracts theyre under and the way fascists there act
— plazy ☾*✲⋆. (@plazynoodles)
As the situation unfolded, Jihyo removed the post entirely, leaving fans debating the balance between political expression and idol image control in K-pop.