SHINee’s Taemin Thanks Fans For Protest Trucks After Being “Disrespected” By The “Golden Disc Awards”

Fans recently sent protest trucks to SM Entertainment on behalf of SHINee‘s Taemin.

In more recent years, K-Pop fans have been able to send messages to entertainment companies in several ways. Social media and emails are two of the easiest ways to do so, but protest trucks are the most attention-getting, without a doubt.

Protest trucks usually feature messages to the company on LED screens and are stationed around its headquarters. These have been used to demand better circumstances for idols and even request a member’s removal from the group.

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In late December, Chinese fans sent LED trucks to SM Entertainment, with a majority of positive messages for Taemin.

First Truck: Let’s end the year on a happy note and let’s greet the new year with lots of hope. Chinese Jjakgungs will always be next to Taemin.
Second Truck: (Korean text) Even if you’re fall away from each other, if your hearts are connected, you can’t tell how far apart you are.
Third Truck: To our beloved Taemin, you’ve done well, you’re doing well, and you’ll continue to do well.

However, fans sending the trucks did have a couple of points of complaint, including requesting that his next solo concert take place in a bigger venue.

When the flowers bloom next year, let’s meet again at a bigger concert hall.

Protest Truck

Another complaint involved Taemin’s performances, or rather, the lack of a specific one. In October 2023, Taemin returned with “Guilty,” a song that was met with some mixed reactions.

However, like all of Taemin’s releases, the artist put on amazing performances, leading fans to hope he would appear on end-of-year shows to perform. However, this has not been the case, and an announcement by the Golden Disc Awards particularly angered many. 

In a teaser for the artists’ performances, GDA hinted that “Guilty” would be covered, though Taemin is not scheduled to attend, leading to backlash.

제 38회 #골든디스크어워즈 with 만디리 D-9
스포네컷을 공개합니다#골든디스크 가 숨겨둔 힌트는?

아티스트들의 눈부신 활약 기대해주세요.

2024.01.06(Sat) 8:30PM(KST)#goldendiscawards #골든디스크 #goldendisc #gda #골든디스크_스포네컷 #GDA_SPOILER_4CUT pic.twitter.com/3qCcU8741Q

— Golden Disc Awards (@GoldenDisc_en) December 28, 2023

are you crazy? only taemin should do taemin’s song whoever planned this is ridiculous #TaeminGuiltyYearEndStage #RespectTaemin respect your artist @SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/P2w2LgXsQT https://t.co/mUB0YcNcNq

— taenvy│the rizzness (@ltmcipher) December 28, 2023

The song belongs to Taemin and no one else
Dear Whoever (who came up with this) Don't be so disrespectful, please
Believe me, pissing off a paying audience is not good business. Should think about this@GoldenDisc_en@SMTOWNGLOBAL@SHINee#RespectTaemin #TaeminGuiltyYearEndStage pic.twitter.com/s2d0czZ5m4

— Macs (@margitmacska) December 28, 2023

Fans’ protest truck requested to see more “Guilty” performances by Taemin.

We want to see more performances of God Taemin’s great “Guilty.”

— Protest Truck

Taemin seemed to agree with the sentiments found in these truck messages, thanking fans on his Instagram story by reposting the various images.

Hopefully, these requests will be met in a way that leaves both Taemin and fans satisfied.