Sasaeng fans have caused trouble again.
The latest idol victim is GOT7’s Jackson, who was involved in a car accident earlier this morning (Thursday, 1st September) due to several sasaeng fans who followed him around.
In a statement on GOT7’s official fanpage, JYP Entertainment explained that the idol was on the way to the airport when the incident happened.
The entertainment powerhouse also revealed that the 22-year-old idol was immediately admitted to the hospital after his flight landed. He was reported to be injured, but the extent of his injuries were unknown.
The full statement from JYP Entertainment reads:
“Hello. This is JYP Entertainment.
While GOT7’s Jackson was on his way to the airport this morning, he was involved in a car accident that was caused by a fan following him by car and was subsequently injured.
As of now, Jackson was taken immediately to the hospital upon arriving at his destination, and actions were taken so that he could be examined.
Following artistes’ cars is a dangerous act that could cause severe accidents involving not only the artiste, but also yourself and everyone around you.
As it is dangerous to not only your safety, but others’ safety as well, we respectfully ask fans once more (to not act in this manner) so that a situation where the public is endangered does not arise.
Thank you.”
However, the company has yet to report on Jackson’s current status as of press time.
UPDATE (2nd September, 10:50am):
A representative of JYP Entertainment has updated fans on Jackson’s status.
It appears that Jackson is currently under stable condition, and his injury wasn’t that serious as it was only a minor car collision. The rep also explained that Jackson was en route to the Chinese airport when the accident happened.
Although it was a minor injury, he was rushed to hospital upon landing at Japan to ensure that no internal injuries were sustained.
The full statement is as follows:
“In the afternoon, while Jackson was going to the Chinese airport in order to go to Japan, he was in a car accident. At the time of the accident, Jackson was in the car. The collision was caused by a fan who was following his car. We are aware that the Chinese reps are investigating the incident.
“Jackson did not sustain great injuries. However, he did go to the hospital right after he arrived in Japan because it was a car accident, after all. He is being examined, and we’d have to look at the results. Based on the results, we will make decisions about his future promotions. We plan to watch over the situation to see if he can participate in the JYP concert set to open in Japan on September 4. The health of the artists under our agency comes foremost.”
Meanwhile, several photos showing Jackson moments after the accident have surfaced. He was struggling to stand upright, and in several other photos, he was shown to be holding his waist painfully. Jackson also needed the support of a staff member while walking.
Take a look at the photos here:
Sasaeng fans have been an ongoing problem for Asian celebrities, most notably Korean idols. In recent years, TVXQ’s Changmin, BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, SNSD’s Taeyeon, and former EXO member Luhan have spoken out against these obsessive fans, but a lack of legal repercussions means that the problem might not be curbed anytime soon.
Once again, we urge all fans to remain respectful of their idols’ private space and to be civil when interacting with them.
Get well soon, Jackson!
Sources: soompi, allkpop, Netizen Buzz.
