The strong showing of "Descendants of the Sun" when it was aired in February over KBS 2TV in South Korea and iQiyi in China led to the creation of several fan groups on Facebook for Song Joong-ki and Song Hye Kyo.
However, one Fancafe, Ki Aile, is reportedly problematic because some of its officials allegedly ran off with group funds totaling 10 million won, or $8,800. The officials collected the money from fans to make signs, but they have already left the fan group, reported Soompi.
Members of the fancafe made public on Friday, July 22, of their suspicion that the funds have been misappropriated. There are now several posts on Ki Aile wherein members discussed the cost of making the signs, unclear receipts and the treasurer of the fancafe now missing.
KI Aile was set up in early 2006 and has more than 85,000 registered fans of Song Joong-ki. The fancafe was named “Ki Aile,” which means “Ki’s wings” because the actor said the fans are like his wings. The fans lift him up, emotionally and financially, by voting for him and buying the products he endorses as well as watch all his movies and TV shows.
Even if the fan café was established to support the Hallyu star, Blossom Entertainment, the actor’s agency, said in a statement, “We are not connected to the official fancafe and do not interfere in its matters.”