Former Day6 member Jae (eaJ, Park Jae-hyung) has stirred conversation online after criticizing fans who sent funeral wreaths as part of a protest demanding the removal of Seunghan from the group RIIZE. The use of funeral wreaths, a symbol of mourning, to express dissatisfaction has become a controversial form of protest in K-pop.
On October 16, Jae took to X (formerly Twitter) to engage with fans, addressing the protest and its implications. Responding to a post that condemned toxic parasocial relationships between idols and fans, Jae remarked, "What you did was harsh... but was it really something that deserved punishment? We are not just protesting for Seunghan; we are fighting for all idols who suffer under toxic fandoms. The witch hunts need to stop!"
Anyone involved in the flowers should be tried for attempted murder because that is what that was.
— eaJ (@eaJPark) October 16, 2024
He continued, criticizing the funeral wreaths as "disgusting" and called out the fans who sent them, saying, "The people who sent these wreaths will be the first to mourn online. They hope for tragedy, but I’ve been on that side before. I can only imagine the trauma this would inflict on someone so young." Jae didn’t hold back, going as far as to suggest that "those involved in the wreath protest should be tried for attempted murder."
Seunghan recently faced controversy over leaked videos and photos from his past, which led to his departure from RIIZE after debuting in September 2023. SM Entertainment, RIIZE's label, later announced Seunghan's return to activities, sparking outrage among certain fans, who responded with the wreath protest outside SM’s headquarters.
Jae's comments have sparked mixed reactions from netizens. Some supported his stance, agreeing that the use of funeral wreaths in protests is extreme and traumatic, while others defended the action, pointing out that it has been used in various protests before without criticism.
Jae, who rose to fame with Day6 in 2015 after participating in K-pop Star 1, left the band in 2021 following controversies over inappropriate remarks. His recent comments shed light on the ongoing discussion surrounding idol mental health, fan protests, and the toxic dynamics in the K-pop industry.