Kim Woo Bin may have just wanted to say thank you—but his latest birthday post has reignited a growing debate around celebrity gift culture.
On July 17th, the actor took to Instagram Stories to share a photo of the extravagant gifts he received from fans for his birthday. Alongside the image, he wrote, “I’ve received more love than I deserve. I’ll carry this gratitude with me for a long time. Thank you again.”
The photo showed an entire space filled with oversized flower arrangements, colorful balloons, and mountains of gifts—an image of fan devotion that was both eye-catching and, to some, problematic.
While the post was intended as a heartfelt thank-you, some viewers saw echoes of a recent controversy involving Lee Min Ho, who faced backlash earlier this year after posting similar photos of extravagant birthday gifts. Critics at the time argued that such displays felt tone-deaf in an era where many fans and stars are advocating for donation drives instead of physical “tribute” gifts. Some also pointed out the environmental impact of large-scale flower and balloon arrangements.
The reaction to Kim Woo Bin’s post was mixed. On one side, fans defended him, saying, “People wanted to give him those gifts—why is that a problem?” and “He was just sharing a happy moment. It’s not anyone else’s place to judge.”
But others pushed back with comments like, “It creates a sense of pressure and inequality among fans,” and “In a time of climate crisis, this level of packaging and decoration feels irresponsible.”
Some even accused the post of promoting outdated “tribute” culture, a term that refers to extravagant gift-giving from fans to celebrities—something many fandoms in Korea are now actively trying to shift away from in favor of more sustainable or charitable practices.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo Bin is set to return to the screen later this year in the upcoming Netflix romantic fantasy comedy Genie, Make A Wish, co-starring Suzy.
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