After launching a fundraiser last week, fans of K-pop star Wonho (Lee Ho-seok) have placed a billboard in Times Square calling for his reinstatement in boy band Monsta X.
“We shine brighter as a family,” reads the billboard, along with the names of Monsta X’s members, the group’s name and a photo of the act as a seven-member team. It began running Wednesday (Nov. 6) and will run 30 times an hour for 15 seconds all day, aside from 2-5 a.m. ET when the sign does not operate.
The digital billboard was crowdfunded by Monsta X’s fans, known collectively as Monbebe, following the departure of Wonho from the team last week amid a series of allegations regarding his actions prior to the group’s start in 2015. Fans of the act have been campaigning for his return to the team on social media since last Thursday, and various hashtags of support have regularly trended worldwide on Twitter. Despite the outpouring of support, the group has moved forward as a six member act while promoting new single “Follow” in Korean media.
The Times Square billboard was organized by Carter Lee, known as Kihbebes on Twitter, who started a GoFundMe campaign last Friday and rapidly raised more than $20,000. Since then, the fund has topped $25,000.
DEAR @OFFICIALMONSTAX,
THIS IS FOR YOU. WONHO LOOK MONSTA X AND MONBEBES DID THAT. A BILLBOARD AD AT TIMES SQUARE YOUR DREAM CAME TRUE.
LOVE,
MONBEBES#MonstaX7ShineForever#??_?????_??pic.twitter.com/XUxjK6Mjwz— Sadi loves Wonho (@wonhodepth) November 6, 2019
The @OfficialMonstaX billboard is live in Times Square!!
Monbebe please continue to fight for Wonho!!!
—-@STARSHIPent #?????_?????#MakeHistoryForWonho pic.twitter.com/suBT8SutQQ
— Emi – Come Home To Us– (@TeamMonbebe) November 6, 2019
I’m handing out the slogans across the street from the billboard!! #MXTimesSquare #MakeHistoryForWonho @OfficialMonstaX pic.twitter.com/zfUG3NrLwg
— maya ? wonho (@plastic__hearts) November 6, 2019
hi can’t believe i’m saying this but the billboard is up :””)
pic creds to @amelisoo #MonTimesSquare #?????_????? #MakeHistoryForWonho pic.twitter.com/q3yFNFx2gu
— carter (@kihbebes) November 6, 2019