Monsta X Fans Gather on Seoul's Streets and Take to Social Media to Condemn Wonho's Departure

K-pop fans around the world are speaking out for Wonho after he departed Monsta X.

Hours after the news broke that the 26-year-old (real name Lee Ho-seok) was leaving his group on Thursday following a swirl of rumors and accusations about his past behavior, local fans began gathering outside the Seoul offices of Monsta X's Korean record label Starship Entertainment. Billboard observed the quiet and peaceful gathering where Monsta X fans (known affectionately as Monbebe) began writing on stickie notes and posting them across the front and side of the building as a security guard stood outside and watched. The messages were mostly in Korean but included some English messages, with dozens of fans of multiple nationalities in attendance.

Supporters who couldn't make it to Seoul have shown their feelings online via social media, with Twitter becoming the main fighting ground for Wonho.

The hashtag #몬스타엑스_응원해 (roughly translating to Supporting Monsta X) has been a top trending topic worldwide on Twitter since Thursday's news. Meanwhile, other phrases like #FightForWonho and #스타쉽_우리가_답변을_원해 (Starship, We Want Answers) have risen to the top of worldwide trends on Twitter as fans discussed everything from theories in how the news broke and finding additional ways to support the singer.

At press time, a Change.org petition titled "Keep a member of Monsta X" has more than 350,000 signatures.

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