Fans greeting their favourite idols at the airport is always an exciting experience for both parties. However, there have been many occasions where artists have been mobbed by large crowds, with people pushing and shoving for a chance to get closer to them. Such incidents have raised concerns about the safety of both fans and idols.
Previous reports have suggested that Korean airports are introducing new safety measures to prevent such disruptions. However, until these are fully implemented, some inconsiderate individuals will likely continue to cause chaos whenever they hear that their idols are travelling abroad. Here’s what recently happened to three male K-pop idols:
Earlier this week, videos began circulating online showing several K-pop idols being mobbed by sasaengs at the airport shortly after arriving in China. The idols in question were ZEROBASEONE’s Zhang Hao, TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Soobin, and ONEUS’s Keonhee, who were reportedly on a holiday together without their management. According to fans, the idols were first spotted at Incheon International Airport, and photos of them began circulating, alerting the sasaengs that they would be arriving.
In one of the videos posted, the boys were seen making their way through the airport in China when they were suddenly surrounded by fans. At the time, there was little security present to control the crowd. Unfortunately, the horror didn’t end there, as it was reported that the sasaengs continued to follow them on their way to the hotel. Security guards were seen holding back the sasaengs as the idols made their way into the lift.
However, just as they entered, a phone was thrown inside, prompting Soobin to grab it and throw it back out. Moments later, another phone was hurled into the lift, nearly hitting him. It remains unclear whether the devices were thrown in an attempt to capture footage of the stars or simply to get their attention. The TXT leader once again picked up the device and threw it back out as his friends entered the lift.
The videos have since sparked outrage among fans, who criticised the sasaengs for disturbing the idols during what was meant to be a private holiday. Others condemned those who shared photos of the K-pop stars at Incheon International Airport, as they were believed to be the reason news of the trip leaked. Many also praised Soobin for expressing his frustration by throwing the sasaengs’ phones away.
At the time of writing, there has been no update from the idols’ respective agencies regarding the incident. As they are reportedly trying to keep a low profile, neither Soobin, Zhang Hao, nor Keonhee have spoken out about what happened. It’s unfortunate that they had to experience such a distressing ordeal, but we hope the three of them are able to enjoy the rest of their stay in China.
Here are reposted videos of the incident:
@mani.herr I bet she won’t do it no more 😭😭😭 #soobin #txtmoa #kpop #kpopmeme #fyp
Sources: Twitter, TikTok, Allkpop
