Super Junior’s Concert Comment Sparks Mixed Reactions
Fans were taken aback when a member of the popular K-pop group Super Junior expressed his love for American culture during a post-concert speech in Los Angeles.
This concert, held at Dignity Health Sports Park, showcased talent from SM Entertainment, with Super Junior as one of the biggest draws—boasting over 2 million YouTube subscribers and a remarkable 20-year career.
After the show, Yoko Park, known as “Leeteuk,” passionately declared his admiration for America. He exclaimed, “I love five people. I love In-N-Out. I love Trump!”
The 41-year-old continued with, “I love Elon Musk! I love LA!” As this unfolded, other unidentified band members chimed in with enthusiastic remarks like “I love people!” and “I love the five of them!”
Audience-captured videos of this moment went viral, and not everyone was impressed. One viewer commented, “Why didn’t his microphone go off?” A few attendees could be heard yelling “Shut up!” in response to the speech.
Despite the enthusiastic remarks, Park pressed on, reaffirming his admiration with, “I love Elon! I love Trump!”
While multiple media sources described the event as filled with humor and light-hearted segments, fans did not find the comments amusing, leading to backlash online. One fan expressed confusion, asking, “Why are people supporting him?” Another noted, “Idols are not supposed to talk about politics for reasons.”
This situation is reminiscent of recent comments from artists like Bruce Springsteen, who at a British concert criticized the Trump administration, labeling it as “corrupted and incompetent.” Springsteen’s call to action to “stomp” against perceived authoritarianism contrasted sharply with Park’s remarks.
The juxtaposition has stirred more than just conversation among fans. Some questioned how public figures navigate their opinions and artistry. As one critic pointed out, “Being a liberal must be exhausting. As conservatives, we have learned to separate artists from their politics.”
Park’s influence in the K-pop genre is significant, with 4.1 million followers on social media. The SM Entertainment YouTube channel alone has over 33 million subscribers, reflecting a vibrant audience engagement with his content.
Concert-goers paid a considerable amount to witness the performance, with ticket prices ranging from $80 to $1,376 and an average of around $218.
Originally debuting with twelve members, Super Junior is now recognized as a distinguished group under the label with a current lineup of ten and several sub-units, continuing to shape the music scene.
