Before the 'Kim Ji-mi Click,' there was 'Let's go buy Park Geun-hye's book'... The 'psychology of graffiti' captured in mysterious scribbles [Ask:Dda]

Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
The graffiti, which read "Let's click on ○○○TV YouTube" and was discovered on the road from Myeongdong to Chungmuro ​​in Jung-gu, Seoul at the time, brought to mind an advertisement for a women's portal site that made the hearts of Sun-youngs across the country flutter in 2000. Back then, papers with only the phrase "Sun-young, I love you" written on them without any explanation were attached to utility poles in Seoul's university districts and alleyways, becoming a hot topic until it was revealed that they were advertisements.It was only natural to speculate that the graffiti, which looked as if it had been scribbled on the road with a marker, was also unofficial promotional material intended to publicize a specific YouTube channel. The curiosity was quickly resolved.Around the same time, graffiti reading "Let's know the truth about the fraudulent impeachment," presumed to be in the same handwriting, was discovered, and the interpretation changed. This was the year 2021, when former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office by a Constitutional Court decision in March 2017, stood trial for the abuse of power scandal and other charges, and received a final sentence of 20 years in prison.
The content of the graffiti began to change from the end of that year. This was after the book "Longing Does Not Happen to Just Anyone," a collection of letters exchanged between former President Park and her supporters while she was incarcerated, was published in December 2021.
Along with the book title, they began including long sentences providing information about the book with phrases such as "Kyobo Book Centre, No. 1 Most Popular Domestic Book Bestseller" or "Click to read.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
Long graffiti appeared on the streets with messages such as "Click for the greatest beauty in the East, Ms. Kim Ji-mi, may she enter paradise," "The symbol of Korean cinema, a beauty that could bring down a nation, the greatest beauty in the East, Kim Ji-mi, has passed away," and "Kim Ji-mi has passed away, the transience of life.
" Recently, the expressions have gradually shortened, eventually condensing into the five characters "Click for Kim Ji-mi. " While the number of characters has decreased, the volume of graffiti has increased, and the geographical area has expanded.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
The graffiti, which was primarily found in the Jung-gu and Seongdong-gu areas, has expanded its range to include Jongno-gu and Dongdaemun-gu, and has been repeatedly spotted in major downtown sections such as Seoul Station, City Hall, Jonggak, Jongno 5-ga, and Cheongnyangni. People who collect graffiti.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
From exhibitions to movie screenings, the mysterious graffiti known as 'Kim Ji-mi Click' has drawn people out onto the streets.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
People have even gone to the areas where the graffiti appeared to collect it.
On the evening of the 14th, a citizen was spotted photographing 'Kim Ji-mi Click' in front of a transformer in Wangsimni, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
Nam Eun-ju (23) showed photos saved on her smartphone, saying, "After seeing the content online, I started noticing graffiti that I used to just pass by without thinking.
" He said, "I took photos whenever I found them while walking down the street, and I already have over 20.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
'Jimmy Churros,' an Instagram account that tracks graffiti, held an exhibition titled 'Kim Ji-mi Click' at a multi-cultural space in Chungmuro, Seoul, from the 16th to the 21st of last month.
Illegal graffiti has been reproduced as an unexpected subculture, leading to urban exploration, documentation, and exhibitions through the participation of citizens.
Was it written by the same person?.
"Possible, but difficult to say for sure.
" Starting in December 2025, graffiti commemorating veteran actress Kim Ji-mi, who passed away in the United States, has been written.
Recently, as the compressed phrase "Kim Ji-mi Click" appeared in various parts of the city, people even began searching for it.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
/ Photo = Reporter Seo Yoon-kyung Although the subjects mentioned in the graffiti have changed—ranging from YouTube channels and former President Park Geun-hye to veteran actress Kim Ji-mi—speculation has arisen that the same person has been writing the phrases repeatedly over the years, given that the handwriting style, the use of the word "Click," and the locations where the graffiti is found overlap.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
However, the expert drew the line, stating that the identity of the handwriting cannot be confirmed based solely on the photograph.
The expert said, "Since some handwriting habits are similar, we cannot rule out the possibility that it is the handwriting of the same person," but added, "It is difficult to give a definitive answer that it was written by the same person because there is no original handwriting to compare with and insufficient repetition of characters.
" The operator of the YouTube channel featured in the 2021 graffiti denied any connection between himself and the writer.
He said, "It is true that our channel has consistently covered news related to former President Park Geun-hye," adding, "I suspect that our channel was promoted because we were reporting on news about former President Park.
" "Possibility of reflecting idolization and obsession beyond emotional catharsis" Interpretations regarding the psychological background of repetitive graffiti were also offered in various ways.
Bae Sang-hoon, a professor of criminal psychology at Woosuk University, stated, "Repeatedly writing symbols or sentences without special meaning in public places.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
However, he viewed the act of repeatedly revealing specific figures or beliefs over a long period as being different in nature.
Professor Bae analyzed, "If only specific targets, such as former President Park Geun-hye or Kim Ji-mi, are continuously mentioned, it is possible that a psychology closer to idolization or obsession is reflected rather than a simple expression of emotion," adding, "It is a behavioral manifestation of the desire to continuously show figures and messages considered important to an unspecified number of people through public spaces.
" The operator of 'Jimmy Churros' also presumed that there is a common context in the changes to the graffiti.
He said, "I think that someone who viewed former President Park Geun-hye like an idol or figure might have started commemorating Kim Ji-mi in the same way," adding, "They appeared connected in that the expressions were a method of repeatedly publicizing objects one likes or considers important, rather than being aggressive or violent.
" Although it has become a subject for exhibitions, graffiti remains illegal.
For citizens, it is curiosity and play Although it became a target, it became a headache for the agencies managing the facilities.
Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.Even before the graffiti reading 'Kim Ji-mi Click' (top) was discovered, in 2021, graffiti instructing people to click on a YouTube channel (bottom left) and introducing a book containing former President Park Geun-hye's letters from prison appeared on roads all over the city.
There are also cases where people face legal liability for graffiti.
In fact, an American who repeatedly wrote "bruxism" and the English word for teeth in the Yongsan-gu area of ​​Seoul was brought to trial on charges of damaging public property and property destruction, and was sentenced to one year in prison last April.
He left graffiti 138 times over a period of about a year, and the court determined that a significant number of these acts could not be regarded as art.
Regarding the 'Kim Ji-mi Click' graffiti, it is reported that the Dongdaemun and Hyehwa Police Stations tracked down the author but concluded the internal investigation after failing to identify the person.
If the author is identified and it is confirmed that they intentionally left graffiti repeatedly in public places, the imposition of a fine under the Minor Offenses Punishment Act or the application of charges of property damage, depending on the extent of the damage, may be considered.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter