Choi Siwon, member of Super Junior, sparked controversy after suddenly deleting a post mourning Charlie Kirk, a far-right figure and close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
On September 11, Choi shared an image on his official Instagram commemorating Charlie Kirk, with the words “REST IN PEACE” written across it.
Charlie Kirk died on the 10th (local time) after being shot during an event at Utah Valley University. He was widely known in the U.S. for opposing gun control and for spreading hate and discriminatory remarks as a far-right activist. The fact that a vocal opponent of gun regulation was killed in a shooting fueled heated debate, and Choi’s public tribute to him added to the controversy.
After facing a flood of criticism from fans, Choi quietly deleted the post without comment.
Choi Siwon, born in 1986 and currently 39 years old, is known as a devout Protestant. The late Charlie Kirk had recently visited South Korea to attend a Christian-related event.
Those criticizing Choi Siwon pointed out that Charlie Kirk was a far-right commentator, responding with comments such as, “Are you going to reveal your political views so openly?”, “Are you planning to go into politics later?”, and “If you were going to delete it, why post it in the first place?”
Because of this, some even voiced opinions that Choi Siwon should be removed from Super Junior.
On the other hand, some defended him, saying things like, “It was just a memorial post, why should he be criticized?” and “He probably posted it because he’s a Christian.”
After news of Charlie Kirk’s death broke, both Republican and Democratic circles in the United States issued condolence messages, and figures such as actor Chris Pratt, talk show host Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel also paid tribute to the deceased.
Meanwhile, Hollywood actor Chris Pratt, famous for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy, also paid tribute to Charlie Kirk earlier. Through his official account, Pratt wrote:
“Praying for Charlie Kirk, his wife and young children, and our nation. We need God’s grace. Please help us, Lord.”
