On November 14, The Boyz’s agency IST Entertainment posted a lengthy statement on the official fan café, saying: “There have been ongoing acts that invade the privacy of our artists and threaten their safety, and we would like to address this issue.”
The agency said: “We observed several illegal acts, including unauthorized visits to places related to the artist’s personal life, intrusions into private time, spreading harmful rumors, forcibly accosting members at airports, taking photos and videos in transit areas, following them in vehicles and illegally acquire and using their private information to contact them. This has led to serious psychological and financial harm to the artists, their families, friends and acquaintances.”
The statement also described an incident that occurred on the 9th when Sunwoo encountered a sasaeng while entering his residence after finishing a program. The sasaeng, who had been hiding in the emergency stairwell, approached him. Feeling threatened, Sunwoo immediately notified an IST staff member, who helped restrain the intruder and hand him over to the police.
The agency added, “While attempting to restrain the individual, both Sunwoo and the staff member were physically assaulted multiple times. The intruder was arrested as guilty of trespass and assault and the police investigation is currently underway.”
Following the accident, Sunwoo and the staff went to a nearby hospital for tests and treatment. The agency is prioritizing his health and well-being by monitoring his condition and taking necessary measures.
IST Entertainment also revealed that a tracking device had been found on a vehicle parked in front of the company building and that another incident involved a tampered tire on another vehicle. Immediate action prevented further damage and both incidents were reported to the police with CCTV footage.
“These actions are clear illegal acts that cause psychological and material harm to our artists and staff,” the agency underlined, reiterating its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy and rigorous legal action against any violation of privacy and security.
IST concluded by stating: “Due to the increasing severity of these privacy violations, we are gathering evidence and reviewing data with legal representatives, with no leniency or settlement to be granted under any circumstances.”
Source: Naver
