The front of HYBE building known as ‘a sacred site’ is now filled with fan-funded banners.
The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office previously filed a summary indictment on the 10th for BTS’ Suga (Real name: Min Yoongi)’s DUI case. Min was caught by the police while driving an electric scooter under the influence In Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 6th of last month. He was then handed over to the prosecution on the 30th on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
BTS’ fandom, ARMY, experienced a divide over the issue. While some of them demand that ‘Criminals should leave the group,’ some argue, ‘He shouldn’t be placed on an excessive responsibility for an incident that caused no injuries.’
Most of BTS’ international fans supported and cheered Suga, saying, ‘It’s time to support and cheer (for him),’ since the police completed their investigation. By August 28th, various fan-funded support banners and truck ads that were prepared with donations via platforms like Paypal can be spotted just outside HYBE’s headquarters building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Banner advertisements with supportive messages were installed on the streetlight in front of the building and trucks loaded with electronic signboards playing supportive messages were also spotted parked on the road in front of the headquarters building.
Korean fans who visited the site that is considered a pilgrimage for some, said, ‘Suga leaving the group would make no sense.’ Yoo (49) said, ‘People say that Korean fans demand Suga to leave the group, but I have never personally seen anyone saying so in the fan gathering. I don’t know where that opinions came from.’ Kim (31) added, ‘I know we should hold influential and famous people accountable for their moral responsibility, but don’t politicians get to keep their positions even after DUI case? I don’t want to say two wrongs make it right, but it’s only fair that he takes responsibility in proportion to his actions.’
International fans, many of whom visited Korea inspired by their love for BTS, also came to HYBE’s headquarters building. Martha Molinar (40, Mexico) said, ‘I have been sightseeing in Korea for 10 days because I like BTS. I really like Korea, but I don’t understand the heavy public opinion. I think it’s time to forgive and cheer, rather than criticize and blaming.’ A (33, Japan) commented, ‘There’s a difference between being strict and being harsh. Korea might need a broader discussion on the ethical standards for its celebrities.’
Meanwhile, banners hanging on streetlights were removed on August 29th due to a lack of legal permission. A district official said, ‘The legitimate procedure is to report to the district office first before hanging banners from the street lamps. It seems like the banners were installed without permission because foreign fans were not aware of the law here in Korea.’ Megumi Suemura (50, Japan), one of the fans present, cheered when she managed to get one of the removed banners.
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’m losing it.
-Don’t be ridiculous. BTS’ fans around me are all demanding him to leave the group.
-Illegal bannersㅋ
-Look at the media playㅋㅋㅋ
-HYBE and Suga’s fans are on the same pageㅋㅋㅋ
-Megumi-ssi, the last sentence is really funnyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Being the fans of a criminal they are, everything they do is illegal.
-Megumi-san obtaining an illegal banner.
-‘He should leave the group!!’ Now you hear someone demanding for his withdrawal, right? Yeah, just leave already.
-Ugh… These people are out of their minds.
-Cheering a criminal???? Are you in your right mind?????
-49 years old and acting like that?ㅋㅋㅋ
-Did they not understand because they don’t speak Korean? Even I heard it loud and clear.
