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2 days ago
- Entertainment
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South Korea presidential elections: Why K-pop stars are ditching the ‘V' sign
South Korea will vote on Tuesday to elect their next president. As voting day nears, celebrities are taking great precautions while making gestures for photos. The 'V' sign is an absolute no for them. Here's why read more The 'V' sign has become taboo for Korean celebrities during presidential elections. Instagram/txt_bighit South Korea is heading to elections on Tuesday (June 3). The East Asian country will elect its new president after months of political upheaval. Democratic Party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is pitted against the conservative candidate, Kim Moon Soo. The June presidential elections have prompted Korean celebrities to be mindful about their actions in public for fear that they could be interpreted as support for a political candidate. Let's look at what is going on. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'V' sign out, clenched fists in K-pop stars are being wary about their hand gestures and poses as South Korea elects the new president this week. Celebrities are avoiding making the popular 'V' sign in public. As per a report by AllKpop, NMIXX girl group members Bae and Sullyoon organised a YouTube livestream on May 27 during which Bae made the V sign with her fingers. More from Explainers South Korea's presidential election: A look at the pivotal issues However, she immediately shouted, 'No! Don't do the V!", holding her head in distress. Sullyoon tried to ease the situation with a similar gesture. She hesitantly made a V sign as part of a challenge ending pose. However, after realising it might be seen as a political statement, Sullyoon immediately showed one to five numbers with her fingers. The selfies taken on voting days have also stirred controversies in South Korea. Some celebrities have gone to great lengths to choose their poses and outfits, even hiding their hair colour, reported The Korea Times. As the 'V' sign becomes taboo during elections, Korean stars have been clenching their fists when being photographed. The boy band Tomorrow X Together, or TXT, was recently captured showing clenched fists in a group photo. They also grabbed headlines after they improvised their V sign by counting from one to five during a live broadcast. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To avoid controversy, virtual boy band PLAVE carefully folded their fingers while posing for a group photo on May 24 during a YouTube livestream. As per AllKpop, the boy band ZEROBASEONE's Kim Tae Rae edited a selfie last week after sharing his picture making a V sign on the fan communication app Bubble, with the caption 'I'm in Korea' via. He wrote a message later: 'Oh right. I heard we shouldn't do the V sign during this season,' and added, 'I'll neutralise it with my blue phone case.' He took down the photo after this text. Why 'V' sign is a big NO K-pop stars have ditched certain poses and hand gestures during the presidential race as they could be perceived as making a political statement. The V sign can be interpreted as support for the conservative People Power Party. It is 'number 2' on the ballot and identified with the colour red, as per the AllKpop report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the V sign resembles the number 2, the gesture can be seen as celebrities endorsing a particular party. South Korea's snap elections South Korea is voting to pick the successor of conservative Yoon Suk Yeol . Yoon was ousted by Parliament last December after he briefly imposed martial law. His impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court in April. Now, liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee is facing People Power Party's Kim in the South Korean presidential elections. Four other candidates are in the race, including Lee Jun-seok of the small conservative New Reform Party. Surveys give Lee an edge over Kim in the presidential race, with the Democratic Party candidate leading with 49.2 per cent against the PPP nominee's 36.8 per cent. Early voting has concluded, with the 21st presidential election slated for Tuesday. With inputs from agencies
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Japan's Iwai wins first LPGA title
Japanese rookie Chisato Iwai became the fifth Rolex FirstTime Winner on the 2025 LPGA Tour with a six-shot victory at the inaugural Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. Heading into the final round at El Camaleón Golf Course at Mayakoba one shot behind 54-hole leader Jenny Bae of the United States, Iwai quickly turned what could have been an exciting finish into a Sunday romp. The 22-year-old Japanese player seized the lead with a first-hole birdie as Bae made bogey. Four birdies in a row from Holes 3 to 6 saw Iwai surge further ahead, and she never looked back. Iwai's closing six-under-par 66 gave her a 72-hole aggregate of 12-under-par 276 (68-74-68-66), while Bae hung on for second place on 6-under-par 282 (69-69-71-73) following a final round 73. Korean Haeji Kang was third on 5-under-par 283, one shot clear of compatriots Jenny Shin, Somi Lee and Hye-Jin Choi, China's Weiwei Zhang, and Sweden's Linn Grant. 'I just focused on my routine and stayed calm. No matter how many birdies I made today and how far ahead I was, my mindset didn't change. I just kept thinking of trying to make the next birdie and trying to stay positive,' said Iwai, who is the third rookie to win on the LPGA Tour this season. This is the first time in 10 years that the LPGA Tour has seen three rookie victories before the end of May. Iwai is the 12th different winner on tour this season, pocketing US$375,000 (RM1.58m) for her efforts. An eight-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour, Iwai finished second at last year's LPGA Final Qualifying to earn her LPGA Tour membership for the 2025 season. Her twin sister Akie is also a rookie on the LPGA Tour and finished tied 16th in Mexico on 2-under-par. Malaysia's Ashley Lau, who got into the field through her Epson Tour status, finished tied 32nd on one-over-par 289 (71-73-71-74). The LPGA Tour heads back to the United States for the second Major of the 2025 season, the US Women's Open presented by Ally at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. – LPGA
Yomiuri Shimbun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Chisato Iwai Wins Mexico Riviera Maya Open by 6 Shots for First LPGA Title
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Chisato Iwai PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Chisato Iwai took a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show Sunday, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a 6-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open for her first LPGA title. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way. 'My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,' Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished at 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. It didn't take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn this into a rout. She hit wedge to 4 feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a 7-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to 2 feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No. 6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. 'It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too,' Bae said. 'So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament.' The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda of Japan also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead, made only one birdie in her round of 76. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Iwai won $375,000 for her first title. It's the first time in 10 years the LPGA has had three rookies win before the end of May. The LPGA returned to Mexico for the first time since 2017 and didn't attract a strong field with the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills is Wisconsin. Charley Hull at No. 15 was the highest-ranked player in the field. She didn't break 70 all week and tied for 32nd.
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Chisato Iwai wins Mexico Riviera Maya Open by 6 shots for first LPGA title
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Chisato Iwai took a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show Sunday, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a 6-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open for her first LPGA title. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way. 'My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,' Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished at 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. It didn't take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn this into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No. 6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. 'It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too,' Bae said. 'So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament.' The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda of Japan also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her final six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead, made only one birdie in her round of 76. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her final seven holes for a 78. Iwai won $375,000 for her first title. It's the first time in 10 years the LPGA has had three rookies win before the end of May. Canadian Maddie Szeryk finished in a three-way tie for 60th at 8 over. The LPGA returned to Mexico for the first time since 2017 and didn't attract a strong field with the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills is Wisconsin. Charley Hull at No. 15 was the highest-ranked player in the field. She didn't break 70 all week and tied for 32nd. ___ AP golf:
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chisato Iwai wins Mexico Riviera Maya Open by 6 shots for first LPGA title
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Chisato Iwai took a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show Sunday, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a 6-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open for her first LPGA title. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way. 'My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,' Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished at 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. It didn't take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn this into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No. 6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. 'It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too,' Bae said. 'So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament.' The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda of Japan also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her final six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead, made only one birdie in her round of 76. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her final seven holes for a 78. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Iwai won $375,000 for her first title. It's the first time in 10 years the LPGA has had three rookies win before the end of May. Canadian Maddie Szeryk finished in a three-way tie for 60th at 8 over. The LPGA returned to Mexico for the first time since 2017 and didn't attract a strong field with the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills is Wisconsin. Charley Hull at No. 15 was the highest-ranked player in the field. She didn't break 70 all week and tied for 32nd. ___ AP golf:
