San Francisco, CA - A wave of disappointment and frustration swept through the global fanbase of K-pop sensation ATEEZ after an item left by member Yunho during his exploration of the city was reported stolen just a day later.

Yunho, currently on tour with ATEEZ in North America, took to Instagram to share moments from his visit to San Francisco, including placing a lock adorned with a heartfelt message on a fence.

This act, often symbolic of enduring bonds and relationships, was intended as a gesture of connection between the group and their fans, known as Atiny.

SOURCE

However, the lock vanished only a day after Yunho placed it, leaving fans disheartened and some even furious at the unknown thief who took the memento.

dear whoever took the lock yunho put on the san francisco pier 39 instead of leaving it there as a landmark for atinys to visit: i hope you have an awful day pic.twitter.com/q434Jiw4p3

— sy ☆ (@parasocialbird) July 17, 2024

Many had seen Yunho's gesture as a tangible expression of the deep bond between ATEEZ and Atiny, making its disappearance all the more poignant.

how selfish can you be. he put that there for every and any atiny to visit, not for someone to fucking keep for themselves. did it even cross their mind that yh might wanna go back in the future and revisit it ?? destroyed such a genuine gesture for what

— fatimah ( ͜. ㅅ ͜. ) (@mingititis) July 17, 2024

READ MORE: ATEEZ Hongjoong & Yunho Reveal Secret Struggle During 'Guerrilla' Performance

"It's incredibly disrespectful," commented one fan on social media, echoing the sentiments of numerous others who expressed their outrage online.

"That lock was more than just an object. It represented our support and love for ATEEZ."

-Fan

I can't believe that someone took the lock Yunho left there for atiny. Now no one can go there and visit/see that lock. Yunho put it in there for a reason and someone just decided to destroy that. Imagine how sad he must be now pic.twitter.com/8Y5Dhqtxh1

— Maria 樂★ || is you fav hotteokᡣ𐭩 (@iknowminhow) July 17, 2024

Yunho is going to be soo heartbroken when he realises that the lock that he inscribed with the words “ATEEZ, ATINYs”, to show his love to his members and fans has now been stolen….

— 🐇 (@NotBonkyP) July 17, 2024

HERE ARE MORE OF THE ANITYs REACTIONS:

Anyone in the area... can you put one that says Atiny X Ateez to replace the one that was taken!!! Like someone broke Yunho's Heart but Atiny replaced it!!!!! I would but I live in Chicagoland area!!! 

There is a sign on the pier to NOT to put locks on the pier. They take them down bc ppl overfill it. His lock would be taken like others and dumped. So whoever took it I hope theyll take care of it-it could've been trashed with the others 

we can't have anything nice in this fandom bcuz ppl be doing stuff like this 

Say sike rn Ateez hasn't even left the city yet omfg what if they wanted to go back and look at it again 

The fact that someone decided to take the time and ruin Yunho's kind gesture...wow. New kind of low smh 

Despite the theft, some fans responded positively to the situation.

Suggestions circulated on social media urging another fan to replace the stolen lock with a new one, ensuring that Yunho's intended message of unity and connection remains intact.

ATEEZ, currently captivating audiences on their "TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER" tour across the United States, has yet to comment on the incident officially.

However, the incident has sparked a broader conversation among fans about respect for personal gestures and symbols of fandom.

ALSO READ: Hate Strikes Out: ATEEZ's Dodgers Debut Marred by Racist Comments

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.