THE ROLE OF HOLLYWOOD FIGURES IN PROPAGATING TRANSNATIONAL MOVEMENT: CASE STUDY OF #METOO IN SOUTH KOREA (2017–2019)

Abstract

MeToo was first coined by Tarana Burke in 2006 as a program of non-governmental organization (NGO) called Just Be Inc to empower sexual assault victims in the United States (US). The term eventually trans nationalized 11 years after its establishment due to numerous sexual assault cases involved well-known people in the US that was revealed in 2017 which triggers pop stars and Hollywood actors who have been molested to speak about their frightening experience. As a result, MeToo which was originally NGO’s program transformed into a worldwide campaign and became popular in the cyber space across territorial boundaries1 . #MeToo succeeded to expand outside the US. South Korea is among the long list of country that actively participates within the movement. On November 2017, the topic has been widely discussed in South Korea, which eventually made Seo Ji-hyun revealed that she has been sexually assaulted back in 2010. Ji-hyun admitted that #MeToo movement in the US has inspired her to talk about her traumatic past. #MeToo in South Korea has shed a light for victims of sexual assault within the country to publicize their experience, and stimulate its government to create policies and programs to counter sexual misconduct issue