South Korea has recently hosted a series of military events, bringing together numerous popular idols and actors currently serving their mandatory military service. Footage from these gatherings has gone viral on social media, but one particular video drew significant sympathy from netizens, as popular actor Kwak Dong-yeon (곽동연) appeared to receive noticeably fewer fan gifts compared to other celebrities.
Recent Army events featured a star-studded lineup including Lee Jun-young (이준영), Kwak Dong-yeon, Kim Young-dae (김영대), Kim Dong-hyuk (김동혁), Rowoon (로운), MONSTA X member I.M (아이엠), and SEVENTEEN's Woozi (우지). Fans expressed their excitement, exclaiming, “The entire K-Pop and entertainment industry is packed into one video!”
Kwak Dong-yeon's participation in the event also became a talking point. During the event, many idols and actors were seen receiving gifts from fans. After the footage was released, many fans shared photos of their idols with arms full of presents.
However, some netizens noticed that Kwak Dong-yeon appeared to receive very few fan gifts. In the video, as he prepared to board a bus, his hands were almost empty, a stark contrast to other celebrities.
This scene prompted many netizens to express their sympathy, taking to the comments section to defend Kwak Dong-yeon. Some speculated that it might be because he is an actor, and fan engagement differs from that of idols. “Maybe it’s because he’s an actor? Idol fans are more used to following their idols around, but actor fans don’t seem to do that as much.” However, other netizens quickly countered, “It wasn’t just idols there; there were other actors too.”
Others admitted that they only realized Kwak Dong-yeon was serving in the military after seeing the event video. “I didn’t even know he went to the military,” one user wrote. Another added, “I’ve always admired him, but I didn’t even know he enlisted. I feel a bit guilty.”
Some netizens also questioned his popularity, asking, “What? Is he not popular in Korea? And he’s clearly very handsome.”
Seeing Kwak Dong-yeon’s empty hands, many fans couldn’t help but comment, “If it were me, I’d give him billions of gifts!” and “He’s one of the best actors I’ve ever seen, I really like him.” Some even expressed intense reactions: “I really can’t take this right now, I’m on my period, I almost flew to Korea to give him a gift.” Another netizen jokingly commented, “If I were in Korea, I’d definitely give him a ton of gifts, hahaha.”
While the video only captured a brief moment during the event and cannot confirm the exact number of fan gifts Kwak Dong-yeon received, the noticeable difference in gifts compared to other celebrities unexpectedly sparked discussion, leading many netizens to take an interest in the talented actor’s recent military activities.
