On Wednesday, April 3, 2025, BTS‘s global superstar Jin stunned his fans by performing in the Andong region of South Korea, which had been devastated by devastating forest fires weeks before. According to eyewitnesses, Jin joined a group of volunteers at the famed Baek Jung Won restaurant, which the owner had converted into a center for delivering free meals to people impacted. Jin’s contribution extended beyond a monetary offering; he spent hours moving boxes and clearing up garbage while dressed simply and wearing a mask that covered half of his face.
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His agency, Big Hit Music, stated, “He joined the volunteer efforts because he wanted to provide even a little help to those affected by the forest fires.”
Knetizen Comments:
Negative Comments:
- “If he was honest, his agency would have released official photos instead of relying on hidden footage!” – A user criticized the event’s vagueness.”
“Isn’t it weird that he suddenly showed up at Baek Jong Won’s media restaurant? It seems like an attempt to salvage the restaurant’s popularity after the recent funding scandal!” – A comment linking the event to commercial interests. - “Celebrities only volunteer when their images need ‘cleaning up’… Where was Jin when the fires broke out a month ago?!” – An attack questioning the timing of the visit.
- “If a lesser-known artist had done it, no one would have cared! Everyone is glorifying Jin just because he’s ‘Jin’!” – A comment attacking the culture of celebrity worship.
Positive Comments:
- “He’s the same person who donated $1 million to earthquake victims last year without announcing it. His actions speak for themselves.” – A user mentioning his charitable record.
- “I saw him personally carrying food boxes with his own hands… He refused to help the bodyguards!” – A comment from a volunteer on the site.
- “Even if it’s marketing, let all celebrities shop like this! Dozens of families received hot meals because of his presence” – a defense with practical reason.
- “The military calls him ‘angel’ because of his morals… This doesn’t surprise those who know him” – a reference to his reputation during military service.
Why Did Jin’s Volunteer Work for Forest Fires Victims Spark Controversy?
Distorted footage of Jin allegedly “leaving the site after 20 minutes” circulated, but volunteers confirmed he stayed for a full five hours.
While mainstream media ignored the story, Naver (a Korean platform) categorized the original post as a “hot trend” with 112,000 interactions.
The restaurant’s name has been linked to recent financial scandals, leading some to view Jin’s appearance as an “attempt to salvage his reputation.”
While the original posts have been deleted one by one for violating platform policies, the controversy surrounding Jin’s visit remains a stark example of the duality of celebrity engagement: a single act can turn into a “charity legend” or a “PR disaster,” depending on the perspective. Perhaps what matters most here is what actually happened in Andong: meals were eaten, tears were wiped away, and hope was born from the ashes… even if the price was a wave of comments that won’t stop anytime soon.
