Rakuten's Cheerleader Ha Ji-won Appears on Election Billboard Without Consent: Agency Furious, Denies Political Authorization

Ha Ji-won (하지원), a popular cheerleader for the Rakuten Monkeys, has recently been at the center of multiple controversies. After drawing mixed reactions for wearing Amis tribal attire and performing K-pop songs at a Hualien event, her image unexpectedly appeared in campaign materials for Yu Shu-jen, a candidate for Hualien County magistrate. As Ha Ji-won is a foreign entertainer, the unauthorized use of her image for political promotion quickly drew public attention. Her management team swiftly issued an official statement: "We have not authorized any political use!" and demanded the immediate removal of the materials.

Ha Ji-won (right) was digitally superimposed onto Yu Shu-jen’s (left) campaign poster, which also included a political donation account. (Image: Screenshot from Yu Shu-jen’s Facebook)

Same traditional Amis attire used in joint campaign ad Ha Ji-won recently served as ambassador for a Hualien Harvest Festival event, where she wore traditional Amis clothing during a public performance. This sparked debate over a Korean entertainer representing Indigenous cultural activities, as well as concerns about the appropriateness of her performance. Now, photos from that event have been repurposed for election campaign graphics, showing Ha Ji-won in the same outfit alongside Yu Shu-jen, accompanied by election countdown information. The controversy gained traction after political commentator Chen Tsai-neng highlighted the issue, raising questions about whether Ha Ji-won had given consent.

Following the backlash, some netizens examined relevant regulations, suggesting that using a foreign national’s likeness in a political campaign could violate Taiwan’s Public Officials Election and Recall Act and the Immigration Act. However, legal liability depends on factors such as the source of the material, how it was used, and whether the individual was aware—matters to be determined by the authorities. Although the original platform where the material was posted has since removed the content, screenshots continue to circulate online, keeping the issue in the public eye.

Management issues urgent statement: No authorization for political use Ha Ji-won’s agency, Aura Entertainment, released a formal statement through its legal counsel, clearly stating that it never authorized the use of Ha Ji-won’s name, image, or related visuals for any political promotion. The agency demanded that all parties immediately cease using and remove the materials to prevent the public from mistakenly believing Ha Ji-won supports or endorses the candidate.

The agency emphasized that repurposing event photos for unrelated political use exceeds the original scope of permission. If such use continues, they reserve the right to pursue legal action to protect her rights. When asked, the Rakuten Monkeys organization declined to comment, leaving the management team to handle the matter.

This incident follows earlier discussions about Ha Ji-won’s cultural performance in Hualien, during which she expressed a desire to learn more about Taiwanese culture. Now, images from that same event have drawn her into another controversy—this time involving political exploitation.

In response, Yu Shu-jen’s campaign team issued a public apology via social media: "We sincerely apologize to Ms. Ha Ji-won, her management company, and everyone who felt uncomfortable." The team also announced a 5,000 NTD donation to the Home of Love Foundation as a gesture of goodwill.