Chronology of the Byeon Woo Seok Fan Club Name Controversy, Now the Fix Has Changed

Discover the journey of Byeon Woo Seok's fan club name controversy and its resolution. From "Toilet" to "Mailbox," explore the evolution of fandom.

Not only ILLIT, the fan club name of the Korean drama star Lovely Runner, Byeon Woo Seok, has also sparked debate on social media. The coincidence of the fan club name sounding like the first syllable for “toilet” in Korean, Byeon Ki Tong, has stirred discussion.

Although many fans found this amusing and distinctive, others urged Byeon Woo Seok to alter the name. Here are the latest updates on Byeon Woo Seok’s fan club name as announced by the agency. Take a look!

1. The fan club name “Toilet” has stirred debate

portrait of Byeon Woo Seok (instagram.com/byeonwooseok)

The name of Byeon Woo Seok’s fan club triggered discussions on social media. A fan posted a photo containing the actor’s signature. Below the signature, Byeon Woo Seok mentioned that the fan club name should be Toilet.

The name is a play on his own name, utilizing the first syllable of the word “toilet” in Korean. While many fans found this humorous and unique, others called for Byeon Woo Seok to change it.

To address the various criticisms aimed at the actor, a netizen also explained that Byeon Woo Seok had already changed his fan club name long ago. Toilet actually originated from the fan club name of the old movie star 20th Century Girls.

2. Byeon Woo Seok conducts a vote to select the new fan club name

portrait of Byeon Woo Seok (instagram.com/byeonwooseok)

In response to the criticism of Byeon Woo Seok’s fan club name, the management of ILLIT finally spoke out. Despite receiving substantial fan support, they opted to conduct a vote to determine the fan club name.

“Hello, this is the management team of ILLIT. Before proceeding, we wish to inform you that this decision has been thoroughly discussed with the actor and the agency. There have been numerous opinions regarding the fan club name, and through the voting process in January, the results were as follows: 64 percent (198 votes) in favor of retaining the current name, and 35 percent (107 votes) in favor of changing it.

While the majority favored keeping the current fan club name, there have been ongoing calls for change. Hence, we have decided to open up the voting for the fan club name to allow fans to participate.

This space is intended for the fans. Although Byeon Woo Seok initially chose the fan club name, he and the agency have agreed to respect the various opinions of the fans.

We will be accepting fan club name submissions from March 7, 2024, to March 16, 2024. As this will be the new name by which he refers to his fans, we urge you to choose carefully. Thank you,” wrote a representative of the management.

3. Byeon Woo Seok announces Mailbox or U Che Tong as the new fan club name

portrait of Byeon Woo Seok (instagram.com/byeonwooseok)

After involving fans in the voting process, the new fan club name for Byeon Woo Seok has been revealed. Here is a statement regarding the voting results:

“Hello, this is the management team of ILLIT. We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in the voting for the new fan club name. According to the results, Mailbox (우체통, U Che Tong in Korean) emerged as the winner with 53 percent of the votes.

Thank you to everyone who voted, and the chosen fan club name will be implemented soon. We remain committed to creating an improved fan club experience. Thank you,” wrote the team.

The fan club name Mailbox or U Che Tong (letter box) for Byeon Woo Seok is a play on the first letter of his first name, Woo, which means “TongTong who thinks Wooseok is the best.”

What are your thoughts on Byeon Woo Seok’s new fan club name?