Lee Min Ho is facing backlash after posting photos of extravagant birthday gifts from fans on June 22, 2025 (KST). The actor shared images showing a room filled with bouquets, balloons, and high-end brand items, sparking mixed reactions online.
Many criticized Lee Min Ho for accepting lavish fan gifts at this stage in his career. Comments like:
“At his career stage, it would be perfectly normal to politely decline gifts and simply appreciate the thought and support instead.”
“He’s been in the industry far too long and probably earns a ton—why is he still receiving them?”
“It honestly doesn’t look great. These days with all the talk about the environment, fan gifts are declining.”
“It feels like poor people giving offerings to the rich… It even looks like he’s expecting bigger ones next year—just comes off as immature.”
poured in from Korean netizens.
Others compared him unfavorably to stars like G-Dragon, Park Bo Gum, and Gong Hyo Jin, who have publicly declined fan gifts or spoken about the environmental impact and excess of such presents.
Gong Hyo Jin:
“For my upcoming birthday, I’ll just be grateful for your heartfelt wishes. The carbon footprint of deliveries, cakes I can’t finish in one go, and piles of packaging make me feel uneasy. While the flowers and gifts are deeply moving and show how much I’m loved, at the same time, they feel like too much.”
Meanwhile, Lee Min Ho’s loyal fans defended the tradition of gift-giving as a form of fan-celebrity communication rooted in affection.
This controversy echoes past discussions around fan gifts in K-pop, such as when SEVENTEEN’s Jun had fans banned from sending cakes due to overindulgence.
Sources: TenAsia, theqoo
