A variation of the heart gesture was created by K-pop idol Chuu, formerly of girl group Loona, who took to making a circle with both hands and "biting" into it like a hamburger, forming a heart shape as she does so. Another is the full hand heart or "cheek heart", which has seen stars like Song Joong-ki, EXO’s Sehun and more cup their hand against their cheek to make half a heart.

But perhaps the most powerful – and surprising – supporter of the finger heart trend is none other than North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. During the September 2018 inter-Korean summit, the Supreme Leader and South Korean government officials were photographed by international media on the top of Mount Paektu, making finger hearts for the world...a small lighthearted moment that showcases an appreciation for their own culture.

This story was originally published in August 2019 and updated in January 2025.