EXO’s Baekhyun is facing mounting anger from fans over his love life after he confirmed that he is dating Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation last Thursday. Some fans are demanding that he leave EXO.

An enraged fan launched an online petition on a portal site calling for Baekhyun’s exit from K-pop idol group EXO as he “mocked” his fans. More than 1,800 netizens signed the petition before the posting was erased. 

The website of SBS music show “Inkigayo” was also flooded with the requests that called for Baekhyun, one of the hosts of the program, to step down.

Mostly it was the idol star’s fans who were “betrayed” and “angered” by his new relationship with Taeyeon who left comments, but a few others took issue with a recently disclosed photo that showed Baekhyun drinking at a bar while underage.

“I strongly demand Baekhyun quit as emcee. Baekhyun went to a bar and drank alcohol when he was not allowed to do so. It is inappropriate to feature such a controversial person as an emcee on a TV program mostly watched by teenagers,” said a viewer only identified by Sohn.

Some fans yelled “betrayer” at Baekhyun during “Inkigayo” on Sunday.

His relationship scandal also led some of his fans to sell Baekhyun-related items on an online secondhand market.

Fans are offering tickets for the musical “Singing in the Rain” that stars Baekhyun at cheap price. Before the news about his relationship with Taeyeon went viral, the tickets were sold for a premium price at around 100,000 won.

Earlier last Thursday, rumors surfaced that Taeyeon and Baekhyun had been dating for four months after Korean online entertainment news outlet Dispatch unveiled photos of the two in a car, supposedly on a date. They were reportedly taken around dawn near EXO’s home in Seoul.

About three hours later, SM Entertainment confirmed the romantic relationship between the two young celebrities.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)