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K-pop stars get cautious in receiving gifts from fans

  • Published : Jul 26, 2016 - 14:41
  • Updated : Jul 26, 2016 - 14:41

Korean celebrities are starting to decline expensive gifts from their fans in the wake of a few corruption cases. Some celebrities have recently been criticized for asking their fans to buy them specific items.

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Kang Min-hyuk (Kang's Instagram)
For instance, Kang Min-hyuk of Korean boy pop rock band CN Blue posted on his Instagram on July 20: “I tried so hard to get my hands on this watch, but I heard it is a very rare item worldwide. I‘ve never wanted something this badly. I won’t rest until I get my hands on you.” He also posted on Instagram a photo of the watch he was referring to.

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the Patek Philippe watch (Kang's Instagram)
The watch he was referring to was from the brand Patek Philippe, and costs around $27,000. Kang deleted the post after criticism that it could be interpreted as an implicit request for his fans to buy him that expensive watch.

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Danny Ahn (Box Media)
In 2013, Danny Ahn from Korean pop group g.o.d. wrote on SNS Kakaotalk, “I want this so badly” next to a photo of LG Twins baseball jacket. About a week later, he posted on his SNS, saying, “Haha I finally got the jacket! A fan bought it for me. Now I just have to find playoff tickets.” Ahn deleted his Kakaotalk posts after he was barraged with criticism for requesting gifts from fans and very casually receiving them.

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the jacket that Ahn posted and received from a fan (Ahn's Kakaostory)
However, there are other celebrities who decline gifts or encourage their fans to give that money to charity instead. Here are a few cases:

Chen from Exo

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Chen (S.M. Entertainment)
On July 19 Chen posted on his official homepage on S.M. Entertainment: “I have always been grateful for fans who gave me support, love, and sometimes gifts on my birthday or Exo anniversaries. However, I just want to announce that your love and support for us are more than sufficient, and I will not be receiving gifts from fans from now on.”

Taemin from SHINee

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Taemin (S.M. Entertainment)
Taemin had also posted on his official homepage on S.M. Entertainment in 2013: “I am always very grateful for the gifts that my fans send me. But I think it would mean even more to me if you spend that love and care instead to those who need them more than I do.”

Some fan communities heeded Taemin’s request and have donated money to ChildFund Korea since 2014 to help children in financial need.

G-Dragon from Big Bang

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G-Dragon (YG Entertainment)
G-Dragon handwrote a message in 2011, “I will not receive birthday gifts from this year on. I am already grateful for my fans‘ love and support.” The rest of the Big Bang members have not received gifts from fans since.

JYP Entertainment

JYP Entertainment, who represent many K-pop groups including TWICE, 2PM, 2AM, GOT7, forbids its artists from receiving expensive gifts. It specified the type of items that celebrities can receive from their fans as hand-written letters, notebooks, receipts of charity donations made under the celebrity’s name, and snacks.

By Lee Ji-hae (jihlee@heraldcorp.com)



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