Throughout K-pop history, fans have found various ways to express their opinions and dissatisfaction with entertainment companies. As K-pop’s global influence has grown, so have these forms of protest, ranging from sending protest trucks to the more extreme act of sending funeral wreaths.

A recent protest involving RIIZE has reignited discussions about the bizarre trend in K-pop fandoms of sending funeral wreaths as a form of protest.

In response to SM Entertainment's announcement that Seunghan would rejoin the group for future activities, some fans from RIIZE's fandom expressed their outrage by sending dozens of funeral wreaths to the SM Entertainment company building.

This unusual form of protest has sparked debate among Korean netizens, with many questioning the extreme lengths fans go to in expressing their dissatisfaction with idol groups and their management. These Korean netizens pointed out that sending funeral wreaths was more than just bizarre and grotesque, even as these wreaths express the "death" of a group.

Korean netizens wrote:

Translation:

"The mindset that spending money gives you the right to treat someone that way is seriously scary. Just because you're a consumer, does that mean idols aren't people? It's an individual's freedom to boycott or protest if they want someone to leave, but sending hundreds of funeral wreaths to one person really crosses the line. Also, funeral wreaths symbolize mourning, and I dislike how they are being misused in this way."

Translation:

"It's true that it's bizarre, but why are people trying so hard to justify it?

Sending a funeral wreath with someone's name on it is definitely bizarre. It's not like they committed a crime deserving of such a thing (though, in the idol world, it might feel like a serious offense).

The justification is that protestors do these bizarre things because it's the only way the company will listen. Everyone understands that... The company is primarily at fault for doing something unfair, and the protestors responded with an unusual form of protest instead of a normal one. But saying that other people do it too, or that this is the only way to get them to listen, and therefore it's not bizarre, feels like too much justification."

Translation:

"I don't really like the idea of sending funeral wreaths. Sending them itself—well, it's been done in sports, and a few idols have received them in the past too. For RIIZE's Seunghan, with his controversy, I can understand people disliking him and protesting for him to leave. I think sending a few dozen for protest purposes could be acceptable.

But sending thousands and feeling proud, saying 'We won,' and being proud of that? That's really not great. I don't understand what they're doing, and they're making a big deal out of a bad culture—what's there to be proud of? I don't care if Seunghan leaves and gets hurt, but I'm worried that this will become such a big issue that it could start affecting girl groups later on. It might become a protest culture where people do this over minor issues too."

Translation:

"Oh man, just send a protest truck instead, LOL. What’s with the funeral wreaths? Funeral wreaths are seriously creepy and bizarre, and doing a mass protest like that, LOL. And in front of the company building too. Are they seriously laughing and joking while posting about it like it's some kind of spectacle for the older ladies to come and watch? Even if it helped with the goal of getting him to leave, he’s still a living person, but to push for his removal like that, seriously, LOL."

"We have some out-of-touch people who think it's okay to protest with funeral wreaths. Funeral wreaths are a symbol of mourning for death. If you’re going to use them as a form of protest, it should be for cases where important social values, which should be alive and active, have been trampled and destroyed—like the funeral for democracy at university protests. But you guys are basically cursing a living person, wishing for their death."

Translation:

"In communities like TheQoo and Instiz, whenever someone says, 'Sending funeral wreaths is a bit much...' the comments flood in with, 'Don’t you watch the news? They’re not just for funerals; they’re used in general protests too.' But the meaning of funeral wreaths hasn’t changed. It’s still about the original symbolism—sending them with messages like 'justice is dead.' That’s the meaning behind the funeral wreaths in front of broadcasting stations, for example.

There have always been mixed opinions about sending them directed at an individual, though. Back in 2020, when a conservative group sent them to the head of the Ministry of Justice, even conservatives thought it wasn’t right. People are saying that this protest was aimed at the company, not the member, but since the demand was for the member to be removed, it feels like wordplay to me.

I honestly don’t have any strong feelings about Seunghan, and I like the other members in the group, but it feels like we can’t even say that what’s excessive is excessive. The funniest part is that some people are congratulating themselves, saying they set a good example, LOL... This strange form of protest is probably going to become a trend now.

It’s natural to dislike something and even protest to some degree against the company, but there should be limits."

Other netizens commented:

"I think sending funeral wreaths is an extremely peaceful way of expressing opinions and protesting."

"He’s not even a politician, and yes, it looked bizarre, but him leaving the group was the right thing to do."

"I don’t know, I just feel bad for Seunghan now. I didn’t originally like him, but at this point, I just feel so sorry for him. Hang in there..."

"Yeah, the flowers were a waste, and it was definitely bizarre, but I’m just thankful that we left behind a successful example of a boycott."

"Now the other members will realize that the fans are holding the reins, and they’ll probably be scared of getting funeral wreaths too, so they’ll be extra careful to please the fans. Mission accomplished, LOL. This is why idol fans are disappearing in real life, and everyone hides the fact that they’re fans."

"I’m seriously shocked, I can’t even speak—hundreds were sent??? Is there even enough space to put them all? I don’t even know what he did to deserve it, but at that level, he might need lifelong therapy. What did he do? Is this something you do to a single person?"

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