Her post followed similar messages posted by Super Junior’s Choi Si-won, who also drew criticism for mourning Kirk despite his history of controversial statements that often stirred political discord. Some fans and online comments opposing the conservative activist expressed disappointment, saying they would unfollow, calling the situation heartbreaking for longtime supporters. Kirk’s death has sparked a wave of controversy in Korea, with several celebrities posting and then retracting tributes amid public outrage. Choi also shared a memorial post on Aug 11 from US pastor John Bevere and the Christian group Bible Alive, which described Kirk as “one of America’s heroes” who “stood firmly against evil”. After criticism that the post appeared to endorse Kirk’s far-right stance, Choi deleted it and issued an explanation through the fan platform Bubble.