China suspends multiple Korean celebrity fan accounts to regulate 'chaotic' fandom culture

연합뉴스 / 2021-09-06 16:07:31

▲ Jang Won-young, a member of South Korean project girl group IZ*ONE, poses for a photo during a showcase for the group's second album "HEART*IZ" at a concert hall in Seoul on April 1, 2019. (Yonhap)

BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- Amid the crackdown on celebrity fan accounts by the Chinese authorities, Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter, stated it has suspended 21 Korean celebrity fan club accounts.

According to digital newspaper The Paper and other Chinese media on Monday, Weibo suspended 21 fan club accounts for Korean celebrities, including IZ*ONE member Jang Won-young's Chinese fan club account, on account of its "spread of unreasonable following and cheering for the stars."

In addition, any problematic content was deleted from Weibo.

The measure came after the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission announced on Aug. 27 a plan to strengthen regulation of the disordered fandom culture.

The plan includes banning minors from spending money to support celebrities and as well as preventing users with fan club accounts from swearing or spreading rumors online.

Earlier, accounts of BTS member Jimin's Chinese fans, who have raised a large sum of money to customize a plane with the singer's photos in celebration of Jimin's upcoming birthday, have been suspended on Weibo.

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