The Unexpected Drama Behind Koreans Reporting IU to the CIA and Boycotting Her Endorsed Brands Like New Balance

Some Koreans are boycotting brands endorsed by singer IU and have reportedly even attempted to report her to the CIA. This backlash comes after IU participated in a “prepaid relay” event during protests calling for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.

On December 17th, the retail industry reported that posts listing brands featuring IU as their advertising model began circulating on social media, encouraging consumers to boycott them. The targeted brands include Woori Bank, Jeju Samdasoo, Hite Jinro, New Balance, and CNP Cha & Park Cosmetics.

Domino's Pizza was also listed, although the company clarified that they replaced IU with Son Heung-min as their advertising model back in May. A representative from Domino’s Pizza stated that while there hasn’t been a noticeable impact on sales yet, they would continue to monitor the situation.

The controversy took another turn when a post titled “Reported IU to the CIA” appeared on the People Power Party gallery of the online community DC Inside. The post included a screenshot of the CIA’s website and encouraged others to join in submitting reports. The post has since been deleted, and whether the claims of actual reporting are true remains unclear.

On the other hand, IU has also received an outpouring of support from fans and the public. Many praised her thoughtful gestures during the rally, emphasizing her genuine care for her fans and her willingness to engage in meaningful actions. Messages of encouragement flooded social media, with supporters commending her for staying true to her values despite the backlash.

On December 13th, IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment, made an announcement on her official fan cafe, stating that they had prepared food and heating packs for “UAENA” (IU’s official fandom) who attended the rally. The agency explained that their gesture aimed to support fans enduring the cold weather while holding IU’s lightsticks. IU’s prepared items included 100 pieces of bread, 100 beverages, 100 servings of gukbap (rice soup) and gomtang (beef bone soup), 100 servings of ttaro-gukbap (separate rice soup), and 100 rice cakes.

The agency added that health and safety should be prioritized, and food and heating packs would be available on a first-come, first-served basis to all rally participants, not just official fan club members.

This controversy underscores the intersection of political and cultural tensions in South Korea, where the actions of public figures like IU continue to spark intense reactions.