“The mob mentality is gross”- Fans defend ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo amid backlash over brand post during political turmoil in South Korea

On December 7, 2024, Cha Eun-woo, the idol-turned-actor from the K-pop group ASTRO, sparked a heated online debate with an Instagram post. The post's images were from his collaboration with Vogue Korea and YSL for their holiday special edition. While some fans praised the visuals, others criticized the timing of the post, given the ongoing political upheaval in South Korea.

Critics accused the star of insensitivity, claiming his post was poorly timed amidst the national unrest. Comments on his social media questioned whether he was aware of the political climate, with some users labeling him as disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.

These remarks included calls for celebrities like Cha Eun-woo to engage in political discourse or abstain from promotional activities during such crises.

However, many fans pointed out that the entertainment industry continues to operate as usual, and it is unfair to impose expectations of political activism on individuals whose primary role is in the arts. An X user, @emilykmm wrote,

"The mob mentality is gross. Sheep."

Supporters and defenders of the artist took to social media to counter these criticisms. They argued that Cha Eun-woo was merely fulfilling contractual obligations tied to brand promotions, which often include strict schedules.

"Some people just want to hate him. It's literally a post for the brand,this is his JOB. The brand representatives also interacted with the post. Most likely,even the date of the post was discussed in advance. No one can even know whether Eunwoo himself or the staff posted it," an X user wrote.

"I just really want people to leave Eunwoo alone I understand hate comes with this level of success but it’s too much they bring him unprovoked and unfairly target him specifically," another fan commented.

"Do you want me to list every K-celeb who posting on Instagram too? The post is related to his job, it's scheduled and synced with the company (Vogue kr)," a user remarked.

"they hated martial law when it came yet somewhat somehow they want to control a persons mode of living???," a fan mentioned.

Additionally, fans pointed out that criticizing a celebrity for doing their job during a time of political unrest goes against the idea of respecting personal freedom. They argued that this criticism contradicts the very values that many people who are protesting are fighting for, such as freedom of expression and choice.

"Other celebs are actively posting. Obviously brand deals are brand deals," a fan wrote on X.

"maybe yall let can that man do his job," a netizen remarked.

"ut yet where is the judgement for every other idol posting on Instagram right now? He was paid to post this, so idk what you expect him to do in this situation. They are always coming after him man," a user commented.

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More about ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo and the ongoing political protests in South Korea

On December 6, 2024, Cha Eun-woo appeared on the reality show Finland Rent-a-Room. In the show, he, along with other actors, could be seen navigating life in a rural Finnish village, disconnected from electricity, running water, and the internet.

During the show, Cha Eun-woo shared a rare glimpse of his family, including his mother and younger brother. His sweet interactions with his family, especially his brother, further endear him to fans.

In addition to his reality show appearance, Cha Eun-woo's brand value has remained strong, as highlighted in a recent ranking by the Korea Brand Reputation Research Institute. Following BTS' Jin, he was placed second in terms of brand value among male K-pop idols for November 2024. The ranking considered factors such as consumer participation, media activity, and social influence.

Meanwhile, South Korea remains embroiled in political unrest. The recent martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk-yeol, which was quickly rescinded after widespread protests, has sparked continued protests for his impeachment across the country.

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Many South Korean celebrities have shown support for the protests and called for the resignation of the president. These include K-pop idols like LOONA's former members, Yves and Hyeju, STAYC members, actors Han Ji-min, Son Ye-jin, Kim Go-eun, and more.