Shinhwa Is Recruiting for Fan Club Shinhwa Changjo for the First Time in Seven Years

Shinhwa is taking applications for membership in the tenth unit of their official fan club, Shinhwa Changjo.

On January 5, Shinhwa’s management agency ShinCom Entertainment uploaded onto their website a teaser cut alluding to the release of their new album in February, the establishment of the tenth unit of Shinhwa Changjo, and a mysterious third item, signified by an asterisk, that is scheduled for January 8.

According to the teaser, applications for Shinhwa Changjo will be received from Friday, January 9 to Friday, January 30. Shinhwa is reviving their official fan club after closing it seven years ago in 2008.

The first unit of Shinhwa Changjo was installed in 1998. Because of their devotion, the fandom has earned the nickname “The Mythical Fanclub.” For example, it was Shinhwa Changjo that started the custom of sending artists congratulatory rice wreaths (also known as fan rice) as opposed to flower wreaths. The fandom initiated the trend in 2007 when they sent a rice wreath to Shinhwa member Shin Hye Sung to commemorate his solo concert.

Aside from rice, Shinhwa Chanjo has commemorated Shinhwa’s various concerts by donating ramen, briquets, and other daily necessities. To honor the group’s fifteenth anniversary, the fan club raised enough funds to build a “Shinhwa Forest” in Gangnam. Indeed, through its proactive community service, the fan club has served as an example to other fan clubs.

ShinCom Entertainment announced, “We will be recruiting for the tenth unit of Shinhwa’s official fan club Shinhwa Changjo […] We are always grateful for the way Shinhwa Changjo has exemplified warm fandom culture through their various donations. Especially since this tenth unit is the first in seven years, we will make sure that members of the fan club receive perks exclusive to Shinhwa Changjo. We hope for interest and support from many fans for the tenth unit of Shinhwa Changjo, which will receive applications starting [January] 9.”

Shinhwa is slated to make a comeback in February with their twelfth album. Recruiting for the fan club will take place from January 9-30 through Interpark.