YG downplays criticism of nurse's uniform in Blackpink music video

Blackpink Jennie in the music video of "Lovesick Girls." [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

Girl group Blackpink’s agency YG Entertainment announced that it had no specific intention behind the portrayal of the nurse in the music video of "Lovesick Girls” on Tuesday, after backlash that the costume sexually objectifies nurses.

“First, we express our deep respect to nurses who are always staying by patients’ sides and fighting on the frontlines," the agency said. "The scene where the nurse appears in the music video reflects the lyrics of the song that ‘no doctor could help when I’m lovesick.’”

The agency asked that the music video be viewed as an independent genre of art, and that the production team is currently discussing whether to edit out the scene from the music video.

The music video for Blackpink's "Lovesick Girls" that was released on Oct. 2 features a scene in which member Jennie plays the roles of a nurse and a patient. After the video was released, posts appeared on social media criticizing that the music video sexually objectifies nurses with hashtags like #NursesAreNotCostumes, #Stop_Sexualizing_Nurses, and #nurse_is_profession on social media.

Previously, the Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union released a statement on Monday, expressing concern that the music video has contributed to the distorted stereotypes about nurses and asking for an official statement from the agency.

“The cap, tight and short skirt, and high heels are completely different from an actual nurse’s uniform and directly imitate the typical sexual stereotype while excusing it as a simple 'costume,'” the statement said. “Nurses are the health care workers who are the most frequently exposed to sexual abuse. If the media continues to show a distorted image of nurses, situations like these will only get worse.”

BY KIM YEON-AH [kim.yeonah@joongang.co.kr]