Why is Block B's P.O being slammed for asking IU to visit him in the army?
Idol actor P.O of the K-pop group Block B has become the latest Korean celebrity to enlist for his mandatory military service. On March 28, he enlisted in the Marine Corps but before that he had done a photoshoot with GQ. Well on April 6, GQ released a behind-the-scenes and short interview on their YouTube channel that has caught attention for the wrong reason when P.O decided to leave a message for soloist IU with whom he had worked on the K-drama ‘Hotel Del Luna’.
In the GQ video, P.O was asked to write farewell letters to people he knew like his friends, Block B and his fans. For his message to IU, he addressed her formally and said, “IU…Jieun, Ms. Jieun, will you visit me in the military?” This clip went viral on Korean platforms as Knetizens were shocked. With Korea having a very horrifying history of ‘comfort women’ they feel that P.O should have been careful with his words even if he was being playful with IU.
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History of ‘comfort women’ in the Japanese army
During the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 1900s, Japan forced Korean women to become military sex slaves for Japanese soldiers. They were taken during their teen years and called ‘comfort women’. This went on till 1945 when South Korea finally became independent. And while the existence of ‘comfort women’ was not too far back in history, inviting women other than one’s family member or significant other to the army base still has a sexual connotation in this day and age. And so some netizens felt that Block B's P.O was making a crude joke at the expense of IU. Others felt that he was trying to garner favors or impress his comrades by inviting IU to the camp.
‘How awkward’
One user pointed out, “Seeing how he's still calling her formally even though they're the same age makes you realize how awkward their relationship must be outside of variety shows, so why would he say something like that.” Another user added, “No but even if they're close, why would he want her to come to 'help his army life'?” One user went as far as to say, “Whenever idols were asked what girl group gave them 'strength' during their enlistment, I felt like this was asking who they used for self-pleasure.”
Another pointed out why his words were taken seriously, “I can see why ‘give me strength, cheer me up’ sound insidious because of the history of comfort women systems.” One wondered, “Yea, I don’t think he meant to perform either. Just to show off (which is what some are trying so hard to make it an issue of). Face it, if you know IU and her visiting your school will make you look cool (and not be bullied), it would cross your mind too.” However, some Knetizens felt that people were overreacting, “They know each other, of course he can say stuff like that, I feel like it's fine..” Another added, “What the... As long as IU accepts the comment who are you to judge?”
Watch P.O’s message for IU below.
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