Devoted K-pop ‘fans’ have once again sent sinister funeral wreaths to a record label in South Korea – this time mourning the rumoured single status of a popular idol.
Jungwon, a member of South Korean boy group ENHYPEN, has been caught in the midst of a social media storm after rumours emerged that he is in a relationship with aespa member Winter.
Photographs shared online appear to show elaborate wreaths of white flowers – like those you might see at a funeral – placed outside the Hybe Corporation headquarters in South Korea.
Notes on the floral arrangements appear to criticise Jungwon for ‘lying’ and ‘betraying fans’ in the wake of rumours he is dating 24-year-old Winter.
Jungwon has denied the rumour – but that hasn’t stopped ‘fans’ from appearing to mourn the ‘death’ of the K-pop star’s single life outside their record label’s HQ.
One wreath said the rumours were ‘truly absurd’, with a banner delivered alongside the arrangement reading: ‘Jungwon, I wonder how you plan to handle this moving forward.’
Another reportedly said: ‘Is lying part of being in the entertainment industry now?’
And a third was translated to: ‘As expected of a vampire. Dating only at dawn, huh?’
Jungwon, a member of South Korean boy group ENHYPEN, has been caught in the midst of a social media storm after rumours emerged that he is in a relationship with aespa member Winter
Others accused Jungwon of ‘fan betrayal’, while another reportedly said: ‘Betraying fans, daze daze daze. Arrogant lies, live replay play play.’
This strange trend of sending funeral wreaths to K-pop members is nothing new, with one former member of the popular group RIIZE facing a similar social media storm last year.
Hong Seunghan debuted a solo career after being forced out of his band by ‘toxic’ fans – who didn’t like that he had kissed a woman years ago.
This led to devoted ‘followers’ sending dozens of funeral wreaths to their label, SM Entertainment.
It signified the ‘death’ of the boyband, for one of its 21-year-old vocalists had been filmed sharing a smooch with what is believed to be an ex-girlfriend when he was 19.
Photos leaked last year also showed the star smoking in bed. Just days earlier, he had been unveiled as the seventh member of RIIZE (a combination of the words ‘RISE’ and ‘REALIZE’) on track to becoming the Next Big Thing.
Seunghan was benched by the label, but they attempted to reintroduce him into the group last month.
Notes on the floral arrangements appear to criticise Jungwon for ‘lying’ and ‘betraying fans’ in the wake of rumours he is dating 24-year-old Winter
Jungwon has denied the rumour – but that hasn’t stopped ‘fans’ from appearing to signify the ‘death’ of the K-pop star’s single life outside their record label’s HQ
One wreath said the rumours were ‘truly absurd’, with a banner delivered alongside the arrangement reading: ‘Jungwon, I wonder how you plan to handle this moving forward’
Distraught fans reacted by hurling messages of abuse at the idol on social media, and posting signs against the singer outside SM Entertainment.
An unverified video of a man, believed to be Seunghan, walking past the wreaths went viral online, as X users noted how downcast and dejected he looked. Before long, he was out of the band.
But now – despite the turbulent time he has had attached to the group – fans are displeased that the vocalist will not be continuing as a member of RIIZE.
Many have hit out at SM Entertainment for being ‘the worst company’ and ‘ruining his career at the age of just 21’ by not keeping him as a part of the group.
Another wreath reportedly said: ‘Is lying part of being in the entertainment industry now?’
Others accused Jungwon of ‘fan betrayal’, while another reportedly said: ‘Betraying fans, daze daze daze. Arrogant lies, live replay play play’
‘It’s not enough, we want him back in RIIZE,’ one penned.
‘WE WANT HIM WITH RIIZE,’ another added.
One questioned: ‘if Seunghan can be a soloist under SM…… why can’t he be in riize………. explain it to me like I’m 5.’
A third proposed that SM is ‘testing the waters to see if the support outweighs the hate and he can come back to Riize’.
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