This clip from Morocco is one of many showing T.I.P’s friends and fans’ support from around the globe.

As we reported earlier, some members of South Korea’s T.I.P Crew have run into some trouble for avoiding the mandatory military draft. The Korean media took it as an opportunity to publicly humiliate the crew as the newest targets for gossip fodder. As a result, the crew lost its jobs, sponsorships, studio, and its reputation as a source of pride for the entire country.

Response within the global b-boy community has been varied. Some have seen it as a satisfying conclusion to an era of overzealous fans who regard the Korean b-boys as demigods — the best thing to happen to b-boying since, well, b-boying. One of the few things more exciting than a rising star is seeing that star fall. Others have accused the Korean b-boys of being delusional — being so caught up in their former celebrity statuses that they cannot accept the consequences to their actions. The situation has begun some interesting discussions and debates about crime, punishment, and cultural norms among b-boys and their countries.

Most striking, however, has been an outpouring of support through petitions, messages, and videos from T.I.P’s friends and fans around the world (no, really, look at some of these places). The crew has apologized and accepted full responsibility for its mistakes. The twist, however, is that the South Korean judicial system is one heavily swayed by public opinion, especially if the defendants in question have made positive impacts in their communities. In effect, showing such support serves not only as a moral boost for the b-boys but could also potentially lead to tangible changes in their sentences.

For the sake of full disclosure, More Than A Stance has met and chilled with members of T.I.P on multiple occasions. They’re really neat guys, and we consider them to be part of More Than A Stance’s extended family. But personal views aside, T.I.P has made indisputable contributions to the b-boy community at large. They helped put South Korea on the b-boy map and have inspired countless people around the world with their talent and humility. More Than A Stance supports the members of T.I.P crew and wishes them the best of luck in their current situations and their futures.

Click here to visit the TIP CREW: LET’S SHOW SUPPORT AND UNITY AS A COMMUNITY Facebook page.

And, of course, feel free to upload your own messages and videos.