PM's shout-out to CORTIS: Why middle-aged Koreans are falling for rookie K-pop group - The Korea Times

Then Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook arrives at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Jongno District, Seoul, June 8. Speaking to reporters about her nomination, Han quoted the lyrics of K-pop group CORTIS' song "REDRED." Han took office as the second prime minister under the Lee Jae Myung administraion, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

"I'll spare no effort in boldly crossing barriers as traffic lights change and times change."

That was the pledge made Han Seong-sook on June 8 during her first appearance before reporters while preparing for her parliamentary confirmation hearing to be the next prime minister.

The line was a reference to "REDRED," a song by rookie K-pop group CORTIS. The song represents outdated attitudes that should be abandoned, while "GREENGREEN" symbolizes the direction the group believes people should pursue in life. One verse goes: "Stop holding back, Red Red / The traffic light has turned Green Green / Cross over the fence, Green Green."

Han, who took office as prime minister on Wednesday, later explained why she mentioned the song.