{{Short description|Korean term for celebrities engaged in social issues}} [[File:가수 김장훈씨, LG전자 CES 전시장 방문(2).jpg|thumb|Popular socialtainer Kim Jang-hoon with new app for WFP and LG Electronics hunger and poverty relief, Las Vegas Valley, 2012.]] '''Socialtainer''' ({{Korean|소셜테이너}}) is the Korean-language term for an entertainer or celebrity who is invested in social issues. The word is used heavily in South Korean media, especially in newspapers, and show business.<ref name="Seungchul">{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Julie|title=Lee Seung-chul: I will continue efforts for peace|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150105001019|access-date=19 May 2015|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=5 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="myongyi">{{cite news|title=Socialtainer: People who AspAspire to Be Happy Together|url=http://media.mju.ac.kr/english/article_view.php?code01=1012009070203&code02=2009071310000006&idx=1896&rn=1&from=list&article_num=1896|access-date=19 May 2015|newspaper=Myongji University Press|date=11 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=다시 '소셜테이너'가 뜬다|url=http://sports.donga.com/3/all/20140820/65878485/3|language=ko|access-date=19 May 2015|newspaper=The Dong-A Ilbo Sports DongA|date=21 August 2014}}</ref>
==History==
The term has been defined as "celebrities who are known primarily for their work and advocacy for social justice."<ref name="mwave">{{cite web|last=Eun|first=Elizabeth|title=[Goodwill] Korea′s Most Influential Socialtainers|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/30090/goodwill-koreas-most-influential-socialtainers|date=2 March 2013|publisher=CJ E&M enewsWorld|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> The word is a compound of "social" and "entertainer."<ref name="sns">{{cite web|last=Jung|first=June|title=Socialtainer, what is your idea?|url=http://www.hojudonga.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10097|date=4 August 2011|publisher=The Korean Daily Hoju Dong-A/The Dong-a Ilbo|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>
In 2011, Korean English language media called ''socialtainer'' a buzzword in Korea, referring to a celebrity activist, and said the word was not in an English dictionary.<ref name="celebrity">{{cite web|last=Song|first=Pyeong-in|title=Celebrity activists|url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2011072067498|date=20 July 2011|publisher=The Dong-a Ilbo dongA.com|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> Also, in that year, media made a distinction between the words ''socialtainer'' and "politainer" (politically active celebrities).<ref name="myongyi"/> However again in 2012, ''socialtainer'' was still defined by some media as "referring to entertainers who express their political ideas and give their opinions on social issues."<ref name="Je Dong">{{cite web|last=Lee|first=JinHo|title=Politician Park Geun Hye Meets Socialtainer Kim Je Dong|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/2538/politician-park-geun-hye-meets-socialtainer-kim-je-dong|date=3 January 2012|publisher=CJ E&M enewsWorld|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>
The academic world has taken more than one look at the word, and the phenomenon, from the perspective of the celebrity and the audiences they affect.<ref name="myongyi"/><ref name="Dongguk">{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Kang-su|title=Our Socialtainers: Model of Practice and Action|url=http://www.dgupost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1356|date=4 June 2012|publisher= The Dongguk Post|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jung|first=Ju-won|script-title=ko:그 날 그 곳에는 소셜테이너가 있었다|url=http://chunchu.yonsei.ac.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=16692|date=15 July 2011|publisher=Yonsei University Chunchu|language=ko|access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> At Dongguk University they compared it to the ranking of the real-time word search referring to the internet expression "bright entertainers" on social networking service (SNS) sites such as Twitter and Facebook. They say ''socialtainers'' are limited by their appeal and stimulation toward the public, and secondly, in their limited knowledge and carelessness in what they say in public and online; then delved further, discussing the question, "Why the power of socialtainers can be uncomfortable?"<ref name="Dongguk"/>
==Controversy==
On July 13, 2011, a controversy ensued, after one of the major Korean broadcast stations, MBC, banned appearances by ''socialtainers'', including actress and activist Kim Yeo-jin, which expanded to a debate over whether it was appropriate for entertainers to use their celebrity to influence the public, using SNS sites, a popular communication among young people; and also, whether such media prohibitions was appropriate."<ref name="sns"/><ref name="celebrity"/> A protest was held by active ''socialtainers'', including writer Gong Ji-young, professors from Seoul National University, Sungkonghoe University, and the team leader of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, who referenced the government's need to maintain "freedom of speech."<ref name="sns"/><ref name="celebrity"/>
Celebrities in Korea are seen to be influential, but sharing their opinions on certain topics is something they monitor, due to media and "netizen" scrutiny.<ref name="mwave"/> Some who were reported to receive a backlash involving "contentious issues" were Broadcaster Kim Mi-hwa, who was suspended from her radio program,<ref>{{cite web|last=Moon|first=Hyun-sook|title=Kim Mi-hwa returns to radio following controversial exit from MBC|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/500601.html|date=13 October 2011|publisher=The Hankyoreh|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> and entertainer Kim Je-dong and rocker Yoon Do-hyun who were banned from appearing on televised programs.<ref name="myongyi"/>
==Celebrities who are called ''socialtainers''==
* Singer Lee Seung-chul is a well-known "Dokdo is Korea" advocate.<ref name="Seungchul"/> * Comedian Kim Je-dong, is a political liberal who hosted conservative party head President Park Geun-hye on television.<ref name="Je Dong"/> * Singer Lee Hyori, called a forerunner of the craze, gave up meat to become a vegetarian.<ref name="mwave"/> In December 2014, she gave her public support of laid off workers at SsangYong Motor on Twitter, announcing that she wanted to see the new car Tivoli sell well so they would be hired again, adding that, if it happened, she would dance in front of the car in a bikini.<ref>{{cite web|title=I'll Dance in Front of Tivoli in Bikini|url=http://koreaittimes.com/story/43651/ill-dance-front-tivoli-bikini|date=29 December 2014|publisher=The Korea IT Times|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> * Rapper Sean, sometimes mistaken for a social worker (active with YG Entertainment charity work), and his wife, actress Jung Hye-young, donate to hospitals and charities.<ref name="mwave"/> * Actor Cha In-pyo and his wife Shin Ae-ra, called two of the most influential advocates, are active with Compassion International and North Korean refugee rights.<ref name="mwave"/> * Actor and Director Yoo Ji-tae has drawn attention to the mistreatment of women.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sunwoo|first=Carla|title=Yoo Ji-tae ambassador of the YMCA|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2959334|date=12 September 2012|publisher=JoongAng Ilbo|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>
A June 2012 news report listed the results of a poll by Panelnow, which asked about 20,000 people, "Who is the socialtainer that best represents Korea?" Thirty percent of the respondents voted for male broadcaster Kim Je-dong, followed by male singer Kim Jang-hoon, actress Lee Hyori, and actress Kim Yeo-jin.<ref name="Dongguk"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Neologisms Category:South Korean entertainers Category:Society of South Korea