SEVENTEEN DINO, Fans’ Opposition Spreads Ahead of His Sub-character Debut as ‘PI CHEOLIN’ [HT Spotlight]

From comedian LEE SUJI’s ‘Jamie Mom,’ KIM KYUNGWOOK’s ‘Tanaka,’ broadcaster YOO JAE SUK’s ‘Yoo San Seul,’ to singer JEONG DONG WON’s ‘JD1.’ As the sub-character craze continues to sweep the entertainment industry, this time, DINO of K-pop group SEVENTEEN is drawing attention by teasing his debut as his sub-character ‘PI CHEOLIN.’

PI CHEOLIN is a character set up as the CEO of music agency ‘BOMG’ and a warm-hearted, highly energetic producer. Since first appearing in a SEVENTEEN fan meeting VCR in 2021, he has continued to receive steady love from fans, and later appeared frequently in SEVENTEEN’s self-produced content, eventually leading to this album release.

On the 11th, SEVENTEEN’s official YouTube channel released an interview video of PI CHEOLIN. The video features three different PI CHEOLINs from different eras appearing on a morning culture program to introduce the “path of excitement.”

‘Prehistoric PI CHEOLIN’ is a figure who discovered excitement before language, reviving extinguished embers with an upbeat beat. ‘Heungna-era PI CHEOLIN’ developed the sound of spears hitting the ground into festive music, boosting the morale of soldiers. ‘PI CHEOLIN of 2126’ discovered a new rhythm during a duel with his archenemy from an alien planet and achieved harmony.

The cheerful atmosphere becomes even more spectacular with the appearance of ‘PI CHEOLIN of 2026.’ After oversleeping and arriving late at the broadcasting station, he is suddenly struck by lightning, and in the meantime, the other PI CHEOLINs disappear without a trace. Amid everyone’s confusion, the final scene, in which only PI CHEOLIN of 2026 leisurely sends his signature “loving gaze” toward the camera, raises curiosity about the journey that will unfold ahead.

However, fans reacted differently. Their biggest concern is that DINO’s final album before his military enlistment may be released not under his real name, but under the name of his sub-character. Fans opposed the move, saying, “It is hard to understand releasing his final album before enlistment as PI CHEOLIN rather than under DINO’s name.” There was also strong discomfort over the possibility of the artist they love being consumed as a source of laughter.

With other members of SEVENTEEN having released solo albums under their own names, questions of fairness have also been raised over DINO alone releasing an album under the name of a sub-character. Fans believe that a character from self-produced content has more meaning when it is consumed within that content, and they are strongly opposing the direction of bringing it into reality and even releasing an album.

In response, fans are publicly expressing their opposition to the agency through a hashtag campaign, ‘#DINO’s_album_under_DINO’s_name,’ and fundraising for truck protests.

When planning an album, various considerations are made between public appeal and the artist’s own musical direction. Whatever choice has been made, the very fact that fans are reacting this strongly before the album has even been released is a signal the agency should listen to. It is hoped that the agency will understand the hearts of fans who want DINO to promote through his talent rather than humor, and under his own name rather than a sub-character.