Fans Raise Alarms Over Fantasy Boys’ Repeated Hand Gesture: “This Can’t Be Ignored”
Fans of K-pop group Fantasy Boys are sounding the alarm over a hand gesture repeatedly used by members during fan communications. What might appear to be a casual gesture is now raising serious concerns about the members’ well-being.
Recently, posts speculating that Fantasy Boys members might be sending an SOS signal have gone viral across online communities. The gesture involves showing a palm with five fingers extended, folding the thumb in, and then covering it with the remaining four fingers—a movement recognized globally as a silent cry for help.
Originally introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown by the Canadian Women’s Foundation and the Women’s Funding Network in the U.S., the gesture was created to help victims of domestic violence discreetly signal for help. It has since spread worldwide via platforms like TikTok and was even used to successfully rescue a missing 16-year-old girl in North Carolina, USA.
The repeated use of this hand signal by Fantasy Boys members during fan interactions has led fans to worry that it may be more than just a performance. Many believe the gesture could be a subtle indication of distress or a plea for assistance.
Further heightening concerns are the messages members have shared recently. Kang Min-seo wrote phrases like “Just got off work”, “I don’t think I’m okay” and “It’s a bit overwhelming”, implying emotional and physical strain. Hong Sung-min posted “Today was another tough day” and “I’ve been at it since morning”, while Lee Han-bin revealed he had to go to the hospital due to ear bleeding.
These signs, paired with Kang Min-seo’s absence from a scheduled fan video call event on May 4 due to health issues, have only intensified fan anxiety.
Online forums and social media are now filled with fans urging the agency and those close to the group to ensure the members’ mental and physical health is being properly monitored and protected. Many are calling for a deeper investigation into whether the members are under pressure and possibly using this hand signal as a covert cry for help.
Fantasy Boys debuted on June 8, 2023 through MBC’s survival show “My Teenage Boy: Fantasy Boys”. The group consists of ten members: Kang Min-seo, Lee Han-bin, Hong Sung-min, Kim Woo-seok, Oh Hyeon-tae, Kim Gyu-rae, Hikari, Hikaru, Kaedan and LingQi.
As concern continues to grow, fans hope their voices will lead to greater transparency and care for the idols they support.