Tributes to Charlie Kirk spark controversy among Korean stars

Sunye / Xportsnews

Several Korean celebrities faced criticism after posting — and quickly deleting — tributes to Charlie Kirk, a conservative American activist and close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was shot and killed last week.

On Tuesday, former Wonder Girls member Sunye uploaded a memorial video on her social media account with the caption: “Until his last moment on this earth, he testified of his Savior Jesus Christ.” The video featured Kirk's wife, Erika, speaking at a podium.

Sunye, however, deleted the post soon after it went public.

Kirk, a conservative activist known for backing Trump, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during a political event in Utah. While his death prompted tributes from both American and Korean public figures, the memorials also sparked backlash. Critics noted that Kirk had repeatedly made inflammatory remarks against LGBTQ+ communities and immigrants during his lifetime.

Korean stars including Super Junior’s Choi Si-won, actors Choi Joon-yong and Jin Seo-yeon, as well as YouTuber Haejju, also came under fire for expressing condolences. Haejju later issued an apology after receiving criticism for repeatedly “liking” posts commemorating Kirk, explaining that she had judged “without fully understanding the late activist’s political stance.”

The swift deletions and retractions have fueled debate over how public figures should navigate politically charged memorials, with some accusing the celebrities of showing insensitivity by overlooking Kirk’s controversial legacy, while others argued that offering condolences should not automatically be equated with political endorsement.

In Korea, where entertainers often face scrutiny for any perceived political alignment, the incident underscores how quickly global controversies can resonate in the entertainment industry — and how even expressions of sympathy can become flashpoints in an age of hyper-connected fandoms and social media.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.