In early April, claims that NCT Haechan was in a relationship with a non-celebrity began circulating in online communities. The so-called “evidence” included alleged couple elements, alleged sightings and even flight information tracing his return from the United States.
These posts quickly gained traction, with some people interpreting his scheduled arrival at the airport as confirmation of the rumors. Despite fans presenting counter-evidence suggesting the trip was a family vacation, speculation continued to intensify.
On April 13, Haechan arrived in Korea at the time predicted by those tracking his movements. What followed raised serious concerns.
Videos circulating online show the idol being mobbed by a large crowd, with individuals bypassing security checkpoints in an attempt to get closer. In one video, a fan can be heard calling Haechan a “son of a bitch”* twice, while in another, the situation is further aggravated when a person presses their arm against his shoulder while attempting to film his face at close range.
The incident has been widely criticized as an example of extreme sasaeng behavior, in which personal boundaries are violated under the guise of fandom.
Following the incident, many fans called for SM Entertainment to take immediate action to protect the artist. Concerns have been raised not only about Haechan’s safety but also about the larger issue of invasion of privacy in the K-pop industry.
- Haechan has worked tirelessly showering fans with love for more than 10 years and this is how he is treated… cursing at him, calling him vulgar words for what… Why did he travel during his vacation? Is there no concrete evidence to prove who he was with?
- One of your artists is being harassed online and at the airport due to countless malicious rumors. We strongly urge SM Entertainment to take Haechan’s privacy, safety and well-being more seriously. ACT ACCORDINGLY.
- Oh my god, the clips of Haechan getting jumped at the airport and being insulted… Some even calling him names and saying they want to kill him to his face is just so horrible. I feel so sick to my stomach.. This is so crazy SM, please do something to protect him!
The leaking of personal travel details and organizing crowd rallies based on unverified rumors highlight current problems with obsessive fan culture.
While dating rumors are not uncommon in the industry, the escalation of harassment highlights a deeper problem: the lack of respect for idols’ personal lives and safety.
Sources: Koreaboo
