People wait in the arrivals area at Incheon International Airport on Aug. 17, 2023. Yonhap News Agency
Pyo Kyung Min
“It's total confusion,” said a fan in her 20s who saw K-pop boy band ENHYPEN arrive at Gimpo International Airport a few years ago.
“There were so many people, it was a wonder no one got hurt. I'm not an ENHYPEN fan, and I wasn't caught up in the chaos, but just looking at the crowd made me feel short of breath,” she told The Korea Times.
It is no longer uncommon to see large groups of fans swarming around celebrities at the airport, one of the most popular places to spot celebrities in South Korea. In order to get close to their favorite stars, these fans often wait for hours at the airport and even carry heavy cameras just for a brief encounter with their idols.
Unlike concerts or fan meetings, airport meet-ups are free and do not require fierce ticket battles. They also allow for closer interaction and allow fans to take photos and videos up close.
“At first I wondered if it was really necessary to go that far, but then I realised how much they wanted to see their favourite idols up close. It's a pretty rare opportunity to see their favourite star in person and take photos and videos,” Hwang added.
BTS members Jungkook (right) and Jimin return to South Korea from Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on Dec. 6, 2021, after completing a concert in Los Angeles. Yonhap News Agency
A local media photojournalist told The Korea Times that it is now “fairly normal” for him to wait for celebrities at the airport with fans carrying “much more expensive and cutting-edge equipment” than his own.
“Most of the people carrying giant cameras at airports aren't technically 'fans,' so we call them 'sellers' – they make money by selling photos to fans,” he explained. “These sellers, combined with everyday fans with their mobile phones and photo and video journalists sent to cover the event, make up the crowds that surround celebrities.”
Idol fans can easily find sellers on social media selling photos of specific events, including airport appearances, as well as stars' flight information. In June, HYBE filed legal action against the operators of social media accounts for illegally obtaining and trading flight information for their artists.
According to photojournalists, the trend of fans crowding around celebrities at airports began in the 2010s with the rise of “airport fashion.” This phenomenon of celebrities' travel outfits as a promotional tool turned everyday departures and arrivals into fashion showcases, and these outfits gained such a huge publicity effect that more and more fashion brands began to use celebrities' airport appearances in their promotions, blurring the line between personal and public space.
“About 10 years ago, when the Korean Wave started to gain global recognition, we were inundated with requests for interviews at airports, and airport fever began. From that time on, not only Koreans but also international fans began to flock to airports to catch a glimpse of celebrities.”
In a 2018 file photo, BTS members Suga (left) and Jin return to South Korea at Incheon International Airport after the group's U.S. and European concert tour. Yonhap News Agency
There are too many people
Mr Park, a man in his 50s who works as an airport shuttle bus driver, said the days when celebrities arrive at the airport are “incredibly busy”.
“Celebrities pose for photos in front of the airport exits on either side of the crosswalk, then they go inside, followed by throngs of eager fans,” he explained. “That's when the shoving begins.”
For safety in crowded places, most celebrities tend to hire security guards at the airport. However, this inevitably leads to unexpected clashes between the security guards and enthusiastic fans or ordinary travelers.
One recent incident involved actor Byun Woo-suk departing from Incheon International Airport to attend a fan event in Hong Kong. As fans surrounded the actor, six bodyguards hired by his agency started flashing powerful lights at them. There were even allegations that these bodyguards overstepped their bounds by checking the boarding passes of some of the passengers in the lounge, something that private security guards are not allowed to do.
K-pop boy band CRAVITY faced a similar problem when an anonymous user on X (formerly Twitter) claiming to be a minor claimed that CRAVITY was hit in the head by a bodyguard when they arrived at Gimpo International Airport on June 23. The user claimed that he suffered a concussion from the incident and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the bodyguard.
Too much security can cause problems, but not enough security can also create serious safety hazards.
Recently, a video was circulated on social media showing dangerous shoving among crowds who had gathered at the airport to see “Queen of Tears” star Kim Ji Won, raising concerns that people could be seriously injured.
Actor Byun Woo-seok's security guard shines a strong flashlight on people using the lounge at Incheon International Airport on July 12. Photo taken from X.
Safety measures are needed
Celebrity departures and arrivals at airports provide a great opportunity for fans to see them up close, but the large crowds that gather create challenges for everyone involved: airports, celebrities, and fans.
In light of these safety incidents, Incheon International Airport is under pressure to step up security measures without further inflaming public opinion over preferential treatment of celebrities.
Incheon International Airport Corporation President Lee Hak-jae called the recent incident involving actor Byun Woo-suk “absurd” and expressed regret that it “was not discovered sooner.” He also vowed to take concrete measures, such as working with police to establish guidelines for private security companies and to impose penalties on violators.
The photojournalist suggested having separate departure and arrival gates for celebrities to address safety concerns and security controversies, but he added that such a solution may be difficult to implement given public opinion.
“The act of providing security often comes under scrutiny and there is debate over whether notables are being treated like 'nouveau nobility' or being protected like 'emperors.' If it becomes known that there is a secret gate just for celebrities, this is likely to spark even greater controversy,” he said.
K-POP boy band CRAVITY / Provided by Starship Entertainment
Despite efforts to regulate interactions, the most effective way to prevent accidents at airports is for individuals to take responsibility for ensuring everyone's safety.
The importance of a mature fan culture in maintaining airport security was recently highlighted by the example of BTS and its fanbase, ARMY, when group member Jin boarded a flight to Paris for the torch relay for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A large crowd of fans had gathered at the airport, with Jin's supporters cheering him on from afar along designated security lines, and Jin personally greeting each and every fan as they entered the terminal.
“The response of the agency is also important. BTS's management is a good example of how they worked with Incheon International Airport to create a safe passageway,” the photojournalist pointed out.
