Is Hwasa’s performance uncomfortable enough to be called ‘controversial’

MAMAMOO member Hwasa has been reported to the police by a parents’ association on charges of indecent exposure during her performance. However, the uncomfortable gaze that arose from Hwasa’s performance has shifted towards the discomfort caused by the “report.”

On the 10th, the Seoul Seongdong Police Station revealed that they have initiated an investigation into the recent report filed by the Parents’ Association for the Protection of Students’ Rights (referred to as “PAPSR”) against Hwasa on charges of indecent exposure during her performance. In the report, PAPSR claimed that Hwasa’s actions were enough to evoke thoughts of deviant sexual acts and cause public embarrassment, stating that it cannot be interpreted as an artistic performance within the context of the choreography.

Hwasa performed on the stage of Sungkyunkwan University’s festival in May for the filming of the tvN variety program “Dancing Queens on the Road.” During her solo song “Don’t Give It To Me (ft Loco),” Hwasa performed a choreography move where she spread her legs and licked her hand before wiping a specific part of her body. Subsequently, the performance video quickly spread online, leading to varying opinions regarding Hwasa’s performance. While some criticized it as being obscene, others expressed that it was merely a performance and suggested increasing the level of expression for university festivals, where adults are the audience.

In the midst of this, most people find the report by PAPSR to be absurd. The crime of “indecent exposure” refers to the act of publicly engaging in lewd behavior. “Publicly” refers to a state that can be perceived by a large number of people, and “indecent behavior” refers to actions that sexually excite or satisfy desires and cause feelings of shame or disgust. In this regard, experts also show the stance that unless specific body parts were exposed, Hwasa’s performance does not constitute a criminal offense.

The public’s reaction, for the most part, is that while the performance may be uncomfortable to watch, filing a report is going too far. It was a university festival attended by adults, and the atmosphere at the scene was one of enthusiastic enjoyment of Hwasa’s performance, making the report seem outdated. Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Hwasa’s performance is shifting towards criticism of the report by PAPSR.

A police official stated, “After reviewing the case, if necessary, we plan to call in the complainant for questioning.” A representative from Hwasa’s agency also stated, “We are internally verifying the facts of the case.”