A new law has come into effect that will affect the way fans show support for their favorite groups. On September 28th, 'The Kim Young Ran Law' was passed that would crack down on corruption in South Korea.
The law is essentially directed at all public servants and aims to prevent any sort of favoritism based on bribery in the form of money, gifts etc. The law also has limits at which exchanges of food or money can be made: gifts worth more than 50,000 KRW ($45), meals of 30,000 KRW (27$), and monetary gifts of 100,000 KRW ($90) are not allowed and offenders will face serious consequences.
Cube Entertainment was the first agency to release a statement regarding how this law will affect fans supporting their artists. Rules were set on which events they will allow fans to send gifts and how to request approval of them. Below is a full translation of Cube's statement:
"Artists schedules in which fan support is permitted: birthdays and special dates, concerts, official fan meetings, fan sign events.
Artists schedules in which fan support is NOT permitted: music programs, drama sets and variety programs (any broadcasts), musicals, university festivals, regional festivals, non-public schedules, practice rooms.
We will not accept any forms of support during any broadcast schedules (meals, snacks, gifts, etc).
We will only accept fan support negotiated with a valid person in charge prior to delivery.
Negotiations must be made at least 3 days prior to the date of the event, but no support will be permitted on the weekends.
The above guidelines will be in effect beginning October 1."
Most of the reactions regarding this law have been fairly negative from the perspective of fans. K-pop idols and actors have been receiving significantly large gifts as support from their fans for years. With an agency like Cube Entertainment that houses groups like Beast and BtoB, the fans don't seem pleased because of these new guidelines. Some of them criticized Cube for these rules while others accepted the fact that the agency is just adjusting to 'Kim Young Ran Law'. It is likely that it will affect other entertainment agencies as well, but they are yet to address it.
What are your thoughts on Cube's updated guidelines and how do you think this law will affect fan support? Leave us your thoughts in the comments!
