Rapper BewhY has publicly addressed the intensifying controversy over alleged election fraud tied to South Korea’s National Election Commission, after his lyrics were accused of taking aim at the agency.
On June 5, a video titled "A patriotic conservative BewhY who has something to say about the NEC" was uploaded to the YouTube channel Beautiful Nerd. In it, BewhY explained how he ended up at the center of controversy over a featured verse he performed for Kwon O-sun’s track 'W.I.N.' during the semifinals of Mnet’s Show Me The Money 12.
At the time, BewhY rapped the line, "If you lay it all bare, you’ll be shocked. That level is like above discernment," and critics claimed that when "seonguan wi" is rapped quickly, it sounds like "seongwan wi"—an apparent reference to the NEC (National Election Commission).
Addressing the issue, BewhY said, "It’s incredibly easy to slap a 'political' label on talking about this," adding, "But I honestly don’t understand why this is political." He continued, "The NEC should be the most transparent and fair institution in our country. Aren’t there plenty of clear facts and statements related to elections? But when you bring them up, people get angry first, and that makes me wonder, 'Why is that?'"
He further explained, "I meant it in a broader sense," adding, "Even when I read the Bible, I keep questioning. What I consider the most dangerous is blind faith. That’s true for relationships and for my own life as well."
BewhY’s remarks are drawing even more attention amid the recent 'ballot paper shortage' uproar during the June 3 local elections and mounting suspicion surrounding the NEC. As the controversy escalated, President Lee Jae-myung said, "The people’s right to vote is a constitutional right that must not be restricted or infringed for any reason," calling the incident a grave matter that undermines the foundation of popular sovereignty.