Are K-pop fans' funeral wreath protests public sentiment or public nuisance?

A funeral wreath urging the departure of K-pop band RIIZE member Seunghan is displayed in the plaza outside SM Entertainment in Seongdong District, Seoul, Oct. 11. Fans are seen recording videos in front of the wreaths in the right photo. Captured from an online community

Hundreds of funeral wreaths filled the plaza outside SM Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul’s Seongdong District on the night of Oct. 11. Fans, protesting the planned return of a controversial idol group member who had been on hiatus, sent wreaths with critical messages like "Freeloaders, Get Lost!" and "Out with [Member’s Name]." Wreaths kept arriving close to midnight, wrapped with sharp words opposing the agency's decision.

These "funeral wreath protests" have recently become a favored method of expressing disapproval among K-pop fans. Beyond buying merchandise, fans demand respect for their views on company decisions.

However, excessive protests can be disruptive to the public and burdensome for cleanup workers. The trend first appeared in political and legal spheres — such as when hundreds of funeral wreaths were placed in front of the Supreme Court by conservative groups after a judge dismissed an arrest warrant for Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung last year.

This method spread to the entertainment sector when BTS fans sent wreaths to HYBE headquarters in May, demanding action against malicious rumors, followed by NewJeans fans in September, who sent a wave of wreaths to the label behind both K-pop groups.

In response to the trend, police and district offices have adopted countermeasures. Under current laws, organizers of outdoor protests must submit an application 48 hours in advance, listing items like banners. This now includes wreaths.

A police official said, “Funeral wreaths are now considered protest materials, so the number intended for use must be declared in advance." If discrepancies occur, a district office warning may follow.

However, the protest outside SM Entertainment lacked this proper approval process. News of the return of RIIZE member Seunghan, who had paused activities for about 10 months due to some scandals, prompted posts on social media platform X, calling for fans to "send funeral wreaths to the front of D Tower in Seongdong District at 6 p.m. sharp" to create maximum impact.

Some posts encouraged fans to "send them anyway, even if they’re removed for lack of permits." As the posts circulated on social media, approximately 1,000 wreaths piled up on-site, prompting an emergency response from local police and district authorities.

A user on social media platform X urges collective action to send funeral wreaths in protest of RIIZE member Seunghan's return on Oct. 11. Capture from X

The issue is that there are few ways to enforce penalties when procedures are not followed. A police official said, "Unlike dangerous items like gas canisters, wreaths are not easily removed even if no permit was filed."

The wreaths, delivered by vendors, also make it difficult to trace the buyer, complicating enforcement. A Seongdong District Office official said, “Only the delivery personnel were visible, without any direct contact with the actual buyer, making it challenging to address the issue.”

Even as an unauthorized obstruction, the wreaths are treated as private property, meaning removal is not straightforward.

By Oct. 13, two days after the wreath protest, Seunghan’s departure was announced, and vendors collected some of the wreaths. During this time, Seongdong District received over 30 complaints, with residents describing the display as “disturbing” and “obstructing foot traffic.”

Some fans have followed the rules successfully, setting an example. Fans who sent wreaths to HYBE preregistered the protest and even hired staff to manage the wreaths on-site.

A Yongsan District Office official said, “The designated manager coordinated with police and the district office, ensuring that wreaths were cleared outside of the approved time, leading to a more orderly protest.”

Funeral wreaths sent by fans are reflected in the windows of HYBE headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, on the deadline day of Sept. 25, set by NewJeans fans demanding the return of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin. Newsis

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.