South
Korean record shops have had a special section since 1997, in accordance with
the Youth Protection Law. This section contains music that Cannot Be
Purchased by Those Under 19.
Korean authorities categorize albums that contain songs with what they consider
sensational or lewd material as albums that shouldn’t be sold to people under
19.
Record companies are obliged to attach special labels, and record shops have to
set up a separate area for those records.
Just last month, the Commission on Youth Protection, under the Ministry for
Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, categorized TVXQ’s Mirotic and Rain’s
Rainism as harmful material for youths, along with 108 other
recent songs.
Rainism, a song by influential pop star Rain was rated harmful to youths
for its alleged reference to a penis. The lyrics that troubled the commission’s
radar were my magic stick that is rolling in your trembling body. The
members of the commission reckon the magic stick symbolizes a penis.
Since its launch in November 2006, the commission has passed the same verdict on
926 Korean songs, 529 so far this year, which is 50 percent more than last year.
The Korea Media Rating Board began to rate songs in 1999 in line with the
revised Youth Protection Law. The job was transferred to the Commission on Youth
Protection in 2006.
The songs categorized as harmful materials for young people cannot be broadcast
before 10 p.m. If they are not labelled according to the law, the record
producers or music shop owners face fines or even imprisonment.
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