Girls' Generation's 2007 debut song "Into the New World" has become a rallying cry at candlelight protests across Seoul, where demonstrators are calling for Yoon's resignation and impeachment.
With lyrics delivering a message of overcoming uncertainty and challenging the unknown, the song has seen a 23 percent surge in streams in the week following Dec. 3 compared to the previous week, according to data from Melon, Korea's leading music streaming platform.
The song first gained prominence as a protest anthem during the 2016 demonstrations at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, where students protested university reforms.
Music industry experts note this surge is unprecedented for a 17-year-old idol group song in today's fast-paced music market.
Other K-pop hits have joined the protest repertoire, including aespa's "Whiplash," DAY6's "Can You Be My Page" and "Welcome to the Show," and ROSÉ's "APT.," despite lyrics unrelated to politics.
Middle-aged protesters are sharing what they call "impeachment playlists" through messaging apps, featuring songs like (G)I-DLE's "CLACXON," SHINee's "Ring Ding Dong," Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry," and BTS's "Fire."
Experts attribute this shift to changing protest demographics. As younger people, particularly women in their 20s and 30s, take center stage in protests, traditional protest songs have been replaced by K-pop, whose relatable themes and upbeat rhythms are resonating with the new generation.
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