"Feeling Better Now?"... Unexpected Wave of Malicious Comments Toward IU After Yoon's Arrest

A Series of Online Reports Filed to the CIA
Calls for Self-Reflection Amid Celebrity Criticism

President Yoon Suk-yeol has been arrested on charges of being the 'leader of a rebellion.' Amid this, some supporters of President Yoon have been leaving malicious comments on singer IU's (real name Lee Ji-eun) social media, as she had prepaid at cafes around Yeouido where impeachment rallies were held. On the 16th, IU's SNS was flooded with comments such as "The nation's little sister completely betrayed us," "Left IU," "Do you feel a bit relieved?" and "I was an IU fan, but I'm very disappointed." On the other hand, there were also responses defending IU, including "Don't mind the malicious comments," "Don't touch IU," and "There are many people here who need financial treatment."

President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested on charges of being the 'leader of a rebellion.' Meanwhile, singer IU (real name Lee Ji-eun), who had prepaid at a cafe in the Yeouido area where impeachment rallies were held, is receiving a flood of malicious comments from some supporters of President Yoon. IU Instagram

Earlier, on the 14th of last month, IU's agency prepaid for 100 loaves of bread, 100 drinks, 100 bowls each of gukbap and gomtang, 100 bowls of ttarogukbap, and 100 rice cakes at restaurants and cafes in Yeouido, Seoul, where the impeachment rallies took place. IU's agency announced that even those participating in the rally who are not members of the official fan club 'Uaena' could receive food and hot packs on a first-come, first-served basis. Since then, netizens opposing President Yoon's arrest and impeachment have visited IU's Instagram account to leave malicious comments.

To make matters worse, there was a wave of online reports to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The intent was to create a list of entertainers supporting President Yoon's impeachment, including IU, and report them to the CIA to block their entry into the United States. However, since U.S. visa and immigration issues are handled by the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, these reports to the CIA are unlikely to affect their entry into the U.S. Regarding the string of criticisms from some far-right netizens targeting IU, some voices have emerged calling for self-reflection, saying, "Isn't this going too far?" and "They should exercise restraint."

Meanwhile, an unprecedented constitutional crisis has occurred with the arrest and detention of a sitting president. This is the first arrest in 43 days since the December 3 rebellion incident. President Yoon is reported to have exercised his right to remain silent throughout the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The president's side maintains the position that "the CIO's investigation lacks jurisdiction over the crime of rebellion, and the execution of the arrest warrant is illegal." The CIO plans to re-investigate President Yoon at 2 p.m. that day. Although President Yoon was scheduled to be questioned around 10 a.m. following the previous day, it is reported that he requested a postponement of the investigation due to "poor health."