IU (Image courtesy of EDAM Entertainment)
SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – In a controversial escalation, hardline conservative supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have compiled a “blacklist” of celebrities who have supported or participated in protests demanding the president’s impeachment.
The list is being circulated on online forums, accompanied by calls for boycotts of products endorsed by these celebrities and even unfounded appeals to report them to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The backlash emerged after singer and actress IU reportedly prepaid for food and beverages to support fans attending an impeachment rally in Seoul on December 14.
Online communities, particularly those with conservative leanings, reacted by encouraging boycotts of brands IU represents and urging followers to file reports to the CIA, alleging the celebrities are “anti-American.”
One forum post, titled “I reported IU to the CIA,” appeared on December 16, along with a screenshot purportedly showing the CIA’s reporting website. Although the post has since been deleted, it underscores an attempt to weaponize misinformation.
Claims circulating online suggest that reporting individuals as “anti-American” would result in permanent U.S. entry bans for the accused and their families—an assertion repeatedly debunked as fake news.
This conspiracy traces back to a 2016 online incident where similar claims first surfaced and gained traction through fringe media. In 2018, South Korean broadcaster JTBC fact-checked the story, confirming that CIA reporting mechanisms do not address such claims and that visa or entry restrictions fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. State Department, not the CIA. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul previously dismissed the allegations as lacking credibility.
Security experts warn that attempting to file reports on CIA platforms may expose personal data. Official warnings on the CIA’s website caution that accessing such pages outside the U.S. could subject users to surveillance by third parties, posing risks to privacy.
Despite the lack of legitimacy, the movement highlights growing polarization in South Korea’s political landscape, where impeachment calls have sparked sharp divides and drawn the ire of staunch conservative factions. Celebrities like IU, viewed as aligning with impeachment supporters, remain prominent targets for coordinated online campaigns.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
