K-Pop Star Sparks Global Buzz After Posting Image Hailing Iran’s Supreme Leader as ‘Hero’

According to Saed News, South Korean entertainer and influencer Kim Jaehwan—known globally by his stage name “Jihan”—has ignited a wave of social media engagement after posting an edited image of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, captioned with the word “Hero.” The Instagram story, designed in the popular “add yours” format, has since been reshared by nearly 27,000 users across continents.

Jihan, a singer, actor, and influencer with a following of over 5 million on Instagram, gained international recognition not only for his musical work but for his vocal stance on political issues. During the recent Gaza conflict, he used his platform to denounce what he described as the Israeli regime’s “genocidal” actions, calling on global citizens not to remain silent in the face of injustice.

His latest act of solidarity comes in response to Israel’s recent military incursion into Iranian territory. In several clips posted online, Jihan thanked Iran for what he called a “decisive response” to aggression and expressed support for the Iranian people.

While rare, public gestures from non-Muslim celebrities in East Asia toward Iranian leadership have previously resonated in the Islamic world, often sparking polarized reactions globally. In this case, Jihan’s post has been embraced warmly by pro-Iranian audiences and is being hailed by Iranian media as an example of “global respect for the greatness of the Leader.”