The New Fandom Culture Created by the Climate Crisis... Do You Know the 'Tree Planting Fan Club'?

The plaque unveiling ceremony of the 'AKMU Love Forest' held in August 2024 at the Blue Asia afforestation site in Bayanhangai, Mongolia. Blue Asia

Fandom culture is evolving into tree planting efforts to respond to the climate crisis.

According to Blue Asia, an international climate response NGO, on the 8th, the Korean fan club 'Jams' of the Japanese three-member rock band 'Mrs. Green Apple,' which held its first solo concert in Korea last February, donated 1 million won from the fundraising for the Korea tour to Blue Asia. Jams stated, "Just like the saying 'Even if the world ends tomorrow, I will plant an apple tree,' we wanted to plant trees and found a meaningful global organization to support. We wanted to participate in Blue Asia's (Green Asia Network) activities of planting trees and people, which shares the word 'Green' in its name, to commemorate Mrs. Green Apple's successful Korea tour."

BTS member Jungkook's fan club, 'Jungkook Supporters,' also donated to Blue Asia in September 2024 to celebrate Jungkook's birthday. Akdong Musician (AKMU), who has a deep connection with Mongolia, marked their 10th debut anniversary in 2024 by creating the 'AKMU Love Forest' at Blue Asia's afforestation site in Bayankhangai, Mongolia. Lee Seong-geun, the representative donor and father of the AKMU siblings, said at the plaque ceremony, "Even if tree planting is a small part of preventing desertification, small actions from each person in their position will come together to form a large forest."

Participants of the 2024 Mongolia Global Climate Environment Leadership Volunteer Program (Mongle) joining hands. Photo by Pureun Asia

Blue Asia also hopes for fan clubs to participate in tree planting for climate response, desertification, and yellow dust prevention through special events related to stars such as birthdays. Blue Asia operates the 'Mongolia Global Climate Environment Leadership Volunteer Program' (Mongle), which involves activities like tree planting in Mongolia.

Shin Gi-ho, head of Blue Asia's Mongolia branch, said, "Planting trees in Mongolia, the source of yellow dust and a frontline of the climate crisis, can be the beginning of preventing desertification and saving the Earth. We hope the positive influence of stars and fans expressed through climate action will not end as a one-time event but will be reproduced as good momentum. We always welcome influencers and fans to visit Mongolia."