How K-pop truck culture became a weapon of protest for angry fans

Did you know that occasionally in South Korea, K- fans pool money together to hire trucks for their idols? How did that come about, and why is it a thing? Continue reading to find out.

(Image: bn_sj2013 on Instagram, theqoo)

From Preview, K-pop fans often drive around trucks as a show of support to their idols, especially during fan events and on-site shoots. The trucks are often customised with specific K-pop idol paraphernalia, making it obvious who the truck is hired in support for.

(Image: yoontruck, skuukzky on Instagram)

Typically, K-pop fans tend to hire in coffee and food trucks as a show of support to their idols. Who wouldn’t want to have a nice cup of coffee, or a quick and easy refuel after a hard day’s work?

(Image: rachel_mypark on Instagram)

Other than food and drink trucks, fans have also been known to send in trucks that only carry LED message boards as a way to show their support for their idols.

(Image: Twitter)

Often, the LED trucks are programmed with a heartfelt message from fans to show their support and appreciation to their idols for their hard work.

(Image: Twitter)

However, these LED trucks have now most recently been used as a means of protest by fans. Instead of sending in heartfelt messages to their idols, the trucks have been used to carry angry protest messages directed at their idol’s company.

(Image: Twitter)

From Buzzkpop, both overseas and South Korean TWICE fans came together to deploy several LED trucks as a form of protest against JYP Entertainment. The company has allegedly been lax in the treatment and management of TWICE.

(Image: JYP Entertainment)

Buzzkpop reported that the LED message boards on the trucks indicated two other things TWICE fans were upset about. They protested the ways in which JYP Entertainment has been handling the music video production of TWICE’s MVs. They requested that JYP Entertainment switch to another MV production company for TWICE.

(Image: Twitter)

The fans also demanded JYP Entertainment to do a proper follow-up on other complaints that fans have made regarding its management of TWICE.

(Image: JYP Entertainment)

Other than TWICE, the K-pop girl group Blackpink also has a fanbase that used LED trucks to protest on behalf of their idols.

(Image: SM Entertainment, Twitter)

Koreaboo reports that Blackpink fans were upset with the unfair promotional schedules that YG Entertainment has set for Blackpink. They compiled a list of demands for YG Entertainment and flashed them on the LED trucks.

(Image: YG Entertainment)

Koreaboo reports that Blackpink fans compiled 12 demands for YG Entertainment to up their ante in promoting the girl group. Despite having been in the K-pop scene for almost 5 years, they argue, YG Entertainment has yet to manage a full album release for Blackpink. The fans' list of demands includes a full album release and an increase of different promotional activities for the girl group and their music by the company.

(Image: YG Entertainment)

Besides demanding better treatment for Blackpink as a whole, the group's fans called to attention the unfair treatment of individual Blackpink members Rosé and Jennie. Koreaboo noted that they had hired LED trucks with demands to “Give Rose what she deserve[s],” pointing out her lack of individual promotion compared to other members.

(Image: YG Entertainment)

The LED trucks of Blackpink fans, parked outside the YG Entertainment building, have also demanded that the company step up in the protection of Jennie. Koreaboo states that this demand came after it was reported that Jennie’s personal address had been leaked to the public. The fans claimed that YG Entertainment had failed to take action to protect their employee’s privacy.

(Image: YG Entertainment)

Wonho of Monsta X left the group after getting caught in a money lending and juvenile delinquency scandal. Starship Entertainment, the company that manages Monsta X, then decided to permanently terminate their contract with Wonho. Koreaboo reports that fans were not happy with the company's decision and felt it was grossly unfair for Wonho.

(Image: Starship Entertainment)

Angry fans protested the company's decision by buying billboards and hiring LED trucks with messages of condemnation directed at Starship Entertainment. They addressed the alleged unfair termination of Wonho’s contract. Koreaboo cited the message on one of the LED trucks as follows: “Starship, you cannot erase Wonho. Your company’s success was built partially on his back. Give him credit where it is due, musically and artistically." The trucks were not only parked outside Starship Entertainment but also paraded around the neighbourhood for all to see.

(Image: Starship Entertainment)

Allkpop notes that anyone can hire an LED truck for any reason, posting anything they want as a message on the truck. As a result, the trucks have sometimes been misused to display toxic messages, such as when angry fans hired a LED truck to demand that EXO’s Chen be removed from the band after his marriage announcement.

(Image: SM Entertainment, Twitter)

An opinion article on Allkpop states that LED protest trucks have been used too much by angry fans. Overall, however, they tend to protest the fact that they have lost their power to spur entertainment companies to be accountable and take action.
LED trucks aside, entertainment companies generally disregard any form of fan protest, thus making protest trucks nothing more than another show of fan support for K-pop idols.

Read more: EXO, SHINee and other K-Pop comebacks fans have been waiting for

(Image: Twitter)