Conservative South Koreans have filed scores of online reports to the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) against singer IU and other celebrities who have publicly supported protests calling for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.
The anonymous users have posted screenshots of their reports online to the US federal agency.
One YouTuber named Americanparangi encouraged their viewers to make reports against the singer, revealing the message they wrote to the federal agency.
"Hello CIA Staff, Thank you for working hard every single day. I am sending you this message to report a Korean singer named IU. Her actual name is Lee Ji Eun. She has recently been showing support for the impeachment of the South Korean president. She even provided food for the protesters who supported the impeachment of the South Korean president. To me, it seems like she is taking the lead in helping Korea's impeachment rallies. She is a famous Korean singer and she has great influence.
I'm sure the US government has already noticed that the impeachment of the Korean president is being controlled by Chinese forces. Also, Korean citizens who have participated in protests have recently been denied US visas and entry. So much is happening in Korea right now. Once again, I am writing this message to report Lee Ji Eun. She has shown her support for the impeachment of the Korean president."
— Americanparangi
The users on the controversial website DC Inside have also encouraged others to follow in their footsteps, sharing a compiled list of celebrities who publicly supported Yoon's impeachment.
Some of the users have alleged that the celebrities in question are actively supporting communist forces.
They have also called for a boycott of products sold by companies endorsed by IU and other celebrities, sharing a list of the brands.
As conservatives revealed their reports to the CIA, some have received automated rejections from the site, as reported by Sports Chosun.
"You have submitted too many reports too quickly. Only one report per 10 minutes is allowed from the same computer," said the automated message. "This policy is designed to reduce report spamming. If your second submission was intended to add or clarify information in the first report, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused."
IU, one of South Korea's most influential singers, recently paid for meals and hot packs, bread, drinks, beef bone soup, and rice cakes for protestors taking part in the rallies against the president.
Her agency, Edam Entertainment, announced the support in an official fan-site post, providing instructions on how to redeem the meals and hot packs.
Other celebrities who have come under fire for their political views include singer Lee Chae-yeon, a former member of the girl group Iz*One.
"As a citizen and a member of society, I'll decide for myself when and what to speak out about," Lee said.
