CORTIS member Keonho is facing accusations online after a post went viral claiming he may have referenced the infamous far-right Korean forum Ilbe Storehouse.
Ilbe is widely known in South Korea for its extreme-right political views and for mocking the death of former president Roh Moo Hyun. Over the years, certain images, gestures, and phrases have become linked to the site’s user culture.
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A recent post on Instiz compiled several clips of Keonho and made loose connections between him and such “Ilbe signs.”
The post pointed to an owl-related personal talent shown in one video, a “flipped” emoji appearing in another clip, and a moment during a live where the number 7 was mentioned.
Ilbe users have long used owl images, owl sounds, and owl-related jokes as a way to mock the death of former president Roh Moo Hyun. Roh died by suicide in 2009 after jumping from Bonghwa Mountain’s “Owl Rock”, which is why owls became tied to mocking him in Ilbe communities.
Using an upside-down emoji, flipping a photo upside down, or intentionally posting inverted images has also become associated with Ilbe culture. The mockery comes from the way some users distorted or parodied the circumstances of Roh Moo Hyun’s death, including jokes about falling “upside down.”
The number 7 — and sometimes phrases like “7 o’clock” — has also been linked to Ilbe slang. It has been used online as a derogatory reference toward the Jeolla region of South Korea, which is known for its historically strong support of progressive politics.
Regardless, netizens have pushed back against the accusations, saying such loose connections are not enough to brand someone as an Ilbe user.
- “Keonho really must be one of the top 5th-gen idols, huh? lol”
- “Seriously, they need to start suing people… the forced accusations are insane.”
- “Are people seriously trying to frame this as him being an Ilbe user? The obsession with Keonho is getting extreme.”
- “They shouldn’t let these obsessive haters off easy. They need to sue.”
- “Please seriously sue them. This is so upsetting.”
