Bada of S.E.S. faced broadcast bans for blonde hair in 1999

In 1999, Bada, a member of the girl group S.E.S., faced broadcasting restrictions in South Korea due to her bleached blonde hair. This transformation occurred during the promotion of the group’s third album, ‘Love’, which featured a more mature concept than their previous releases.

At the time, major Korean networks including KBS, MBC, and SBS enforced strict visual standards, particularly for programs targeting younger audiences. Heavily dyed or unnaturally light hair was viewed by censors as potentially being a ‘bad influence’ on teenagers. These regulations limited S.E.S.’s ability to appear on major music programs with the hairstyle visible, hindering the promotional plans set by SM Entertainment.

Over time, these strict broadcast standards loosened, allowing unconventional hair colors to become a standard part of K-pop idol image-making and concept development.