Choi Si-won, a member of the K-pop group Super Junior, found himself in hot water this past weekend after sharing an Instagram story that featured images mourning the death of Charlie Kirk, an American conservative commentator.
Reports indicate that Choi posted an image of Kirk alongside a cross, with a follow-up photo showing the phrase “Rest in Peace, Charlie Kirk,” along with a biblical poem. It seems that he later deleted these posts, although it’s unclear since Instagram stories typically vanish after 24 hours unless saved by the user.
Various K-pop gossip sites noted that Choi had also shared a message on “Bubble,” another social media platform, where he expressed remorse after receiving backlash over his tribute to Kirk. Interestingly, that message emphasized Kirk’s faith and was visible only to those subscribed to Choi. In Choi’s words, he referred to Kirk as a devoted Christian, family man, and expressed that his tragic death during a lecture, regardless of political affiliations, was deeply saddening. He acknowledged receiving media attention but felt that his intentions were misinterpreted, leading him to remove the post.
While these messages were meant for fans, automated accounts on Twitter reported the content from Choi’s Bubble posts, spreading them further. This burial of original intent caught the eyes of many.
The response from the left was swift and furious, with calls on social media for Choi to be removed from the band. It’s fascinating, really, how quickly opinions can turn in today’s digital world.
Meanwhile, some celebrity gossip sources highlighted a video showing LeeTeuk, the band’s leader, seemingly ignoring Choi, fueling speculation that other band members were also dissatisfied with his actions. Fans noticed that LeeTeuk wasn’t following Choi on Instagram anymore, although it’s uncertain if that was a recent decision.
LeeTeuk himself faced a similar backlash in May when some left-wing online users criticized him. During a concert in California, he reportedly voice his admiration for Donald Trump, adding to the controversy swirling around Choi’s tribute. Super Junior, since its debut in 2005, has been a staple of K-pop, known for its large and dynamic member lineup.
Choi tends to be vocal about his Christian beliefs, which has sparked controversy among some fans in the past as well. Currently, he enjoys a following of 8.7 million on Instagram, where his bio reflects his strong faith.
Charlie Kirk was known for founding Turning Point USA, an organization aimed at empowering young conservatives in America, and he had a significant international presence, even visiting Korea to support local conservative groups. In his final comments before his assassination, he praised the cleanliness of Seoul, contrasting it with issues in American cities.
Tragically, Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University while engaging with students. He was known for promoting civil debate and was just 31 years old. His alleged assailant, Tyler Robinson, has been identified as holding extreme leftist views at the time of the incident.
