Children's Book Author Faces Backlash for Signing Elementary Students' Bare Arms

A children's book author who visited an elementary school for a lecture is facing backlash for signing students' bare arms after they asked for autographs on notebooks instead of his books.

The male children's author, identified as A, recently posted a photo on social media with the caption, "You might think it's harsh, but I never sign for kids who ask me to tear out pages from a notebook and sign them. Maybe if it's on their forearm."

The photo showed two students with the author's signature on their bare forearms with their sleeves rolled up.

Author A added, "I told the children to make sure to tell their parents that if they have a meeting with an author at school, it is basic etiquette to at least buy a book to get signed."

In response, a netizen shared A's post and criticized, "You might think this is harsh, but I will never buy your books."

Other netizens also poured out criticisms, asking, "Is he really a children's book author?", "It seems he completely disregarded the desperate feelings of children who wanted an autograph even on a torn piece of notebook," and "Other authors personally prepare books or postcards for signing."

Criticisms also emerged pointing out that unlike commercial events like book fairs or fan signings where book sales are the primary purpose, demanding the purchase of books from minors at a school-hosted event goes too far.

As the controversy grew, author A deleted the post and deactivated his social media account.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.