Multiple Fan Clubs Emerge Surrounding Fugitive Lee Eun-hae
Fan Club Notices Include Statements Like 'If You're Pretty, Your Crimes Are Forgiven'
Supporters Attracted to Criminal's Appearance Form Core Group... Past Controversy Over Shin Chang-won's Fan Club
Experts Say "Intent Is to Attract Social Attention"
A fan club defending Lee Eun-hae, the suspect in the 'Valley Murder Case,' has emerged, sparking controversy. Photo by KakaoTalk Open Chat Room 'Gapyeong Valley Case Lee Eun-hae Fan Room' capture.
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A fan club defending Lee Eun-hae, who has been publicly wanted as a suspect in the 'Valley Murder Case,' has emerged, sparking controversy. The fan club was formed mainly by those who felt attracted to Lee Eun-hae's appearance, raising concerns that it could dilute the perception of her criminality. Experts analyzed that fan clubs admiring a criminal's appearance are intended to attract social attention.
Recently, it was confirmed that multiple group chat rooms, appearing to be Lee Eun-hae fan clubs, are operating on KakaoTalk open chat. On the 11th, searching 'Lee Eun-hae' on KakaoTalk revealed several group chat rooms such as 'Lee Eun-hae Fan Talk Room,' 'Valley Lee Eun-hae Fan Talk Room,' and 'Eun-hae’s Eun-hae Lee Eun-hae Fan Club.'
Participants in these chat rooms exchanged conversations defending Lee Eun-hae, the suspect in the valley murder case, with some even saying, "If you are pretty, your crime is forgiven." In one chat room with about 90 participants, a notice was posted stating, "Crime is not important. The face is important. If you are pretty, everything is forgiven." Netizens shared photos of Lee Eun-hae and responded with comments like, "Honestly, if Lee Eun-hae did something wrong, it’s the crime of being too pretty," "I love you," and "I fell for her bikini photo."
Lee Eun-hae and her accomplice Jo Hyun-soo are accused of making Lee Eun-hae’s husband, Mr. A, who cannot swim, dive and then failing to rescue him, resulting in his death. Since December last year, the prosecution has begun a full-scale summons investigation of them, but Lee Eun-hae and Jo Hyun-soo disappeared before their second summons. More than two weeks have passed since the authorities publicly wanted them, but their whereabouts remain unknown.
Previously, the 'Valley Murder Case' drew public attention after being featured on SBS’s investigative program 'Unanswered Questions' in October 2020. As the broadcast covered the suspicions surrounding the case and Lee Eun-hae’s fugitive activities prolonged, her past criminal record and TV appearances were reexamined, eventually leading to the emergence of a fan club for Lee Eun-hae.
On July 16, 1999, escapee Shin Chang-won was captured in Suncheon, Jeonnam, following a citizen tip-off. The photo shows him being transferred to the police station. [Image source=Yonhap News]
It has been common for people attracted to a criminal’s charming appearance to form 'fan clubs.' In the late 1990s, Shin Chang-won, known as the 'notorious escapee' who was caught after 907 days on the run, sparked the so-called 'Shin Chang-won Syndrome' due to his outstanding fashion sense and looks. Shin Chang-won was serving a life sentence for robbery, murder, and manslaughter since 1997 and became a hot topic for his elusive escape from prison and fugitive life.
Later, the first fan cafe for a criminal was established for him, and the rainbow-colored shirt he wore at the time of his arrest caused a sell-out frenzy, becoming the origin of the 'blame look.' The blame look refers to the phenomenon where the public imitates the fashion of socially controversial figures.
However, criticism arises that fan clubs glorifying criminals like 'stars' may dilute the severity of the brutal crimes they committed. Kim, a man in his 30s working in an office, said, "I cannot understand it logically that a fan club is created for someone wanted for murder, praising their appearance. They committed heinous crimes, so isn’t this glorification?" he raised his voice.
Regarding fan clubs admiring criminals’ appearances, experts pointed out that it is a behavior aimed at attracting social attention. Oh Yoon-sung, a professor in the Department of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, "In the U.S., there were even people who wanted to marry Ted Bundy, who was charged with killing 30 women in the 1970s. Ultimately, these are actions to attract attention. When such fan clubs receive media coverage, it appears as if their presence is highlighted, which motivates such behavior. It is by no means appropriate," he said.
Meanwhile, as controversy surrounding Lee Eun-hae’s fan club grew, the related fan clubs have now been switched to private or deleted.
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