China's Weibo bans BTS fan account for illegal fundraising

In this May 21, 2021, file photo members of South Korean K-pop band BTS pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single "Butter" in Seoul, South Korea. Chinese social media platform Weibo has banned a fan club of popular South Korean K-pop band BTS from posting for 60 days. Weibo said Sunday, Sept 5, 2021, the club had raised funds illegally. The ban comes just days after photographs of a customised airplane funded by the fan club were posted online. — AP

BEIJING: Chinese social media platform Weibo banned a fan club of popular South Korean K-pop band BTS from posting for 60 days, saying it had raised funds illegally, days after photographs of a customised airplane funded by the fan club were posted online.

The fan club account, which had over 1.1 million followers on Weibo, was centred around BTS member Jimin. The restrictions imposed on the account came amid China’s campaign to clean up the entertainment industry and clamp down on "irrational behaviour” exhibited by fans.