Seoul, en.SERU.co.id — Ballad singer Parc Jae Jung (Park Jae-jung) announced the recruitment of members for his first official fan club after 13 years of his debut on Friday (19/6/2026). However, this sparked controversy among Park Hyo Shin’s longtime fans, before being withdrawn by his agency after just one day.
Singer who best known as the winner of Superstar K 5, announced that his first official fan club would be called “Namu” (나무), the Korean word for “tree.” He explained that the name came from his old fan-given nickname “Tree Prince,” and said he wanted to be a comforting “prince” for his supporters.
The announcement quickly drew criticism from many Park Hyo Shin fans. For over two decades, the veteran ballad singer has affectionately called his own fans “Namu,” and his official fan club is named SOULTREE. Some felt Parc Jae Jung’s choice was too similar and risked causing confusion.
Just one day later, on today (20/6/2026), Parc Jae Jung’s agency, Romantic Factory, pulled the name.
“We announced that the official fan club would be called ‘Namu (Tree).’ However, we later learned that Park Hyo Shin’s official fan club, Soul Tree, has long used the term ‘Namu’ as a term of endearment for their members. We have decided to reconsider the fan club name,” the agency said in a statement.
The agency also issued an apology to Park Hyo Shin and his fans for any confusion caused.
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The episode sparked a wider conversation online. Many netizens argued that “Namu” is simply a common Korean word and questioned whether any fandom can truly claim ownership over it. Others pointed out what they saw as a double standard — noting that Park Hyo Shin’s fans often call him “Daejang” (Captain), a nickname long associated with Seo Taiji.
The situation echoes past K-pop fandom name disputes, such as the one involving ILLIT. For now, Parc Jae Jung’s fan club recruitment is still scheduled to begin on June 22, though the final name remains undecided.
*(Sources: Allkpop, KbizoOm, MK.co.kr)
