The safety of BTS and other prominent K-pop artists has once again been compromised, following the revelation that an employee of a Hong Kong airline leaked sensitive information regarding their travel arrangements.

On February 24, the cybercrime unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that a 30-year-old woman employed by the airline is under investigation for allegedly unlawfully accessing numerous flight records spanning from 2023 to 2024. According to a report by AllKpop, her position enabled her to gain access to internal booking systems with relative ease.

The airline staff member is suspected of utilizing airline software to search for the names and birthdates of celebrities, thereby acquiring confidential flight details, including seat assignments. It has been reported that she initially shared this information with acquaintances.

However, her actions escalated as she began to sell this information for personal gain, thereby jeopardizing the safety of BTS members and other high-profile celebrities. She reportedly adjusted her prices based on the popularity of the stars involved. Authorities estimate that she sold over 1,000 sets of data, resulting in profits exceeding 10 million KRW (approximately $7,000 USD).

As the investigation continues, officials are also exploring the potential involvement of additional individuals connected to the illicit sale of flight information pertaining to top celebrities.

No end to the same nightmare for K-pop idols

The recent report highlights yet another chapter in the ongoing issue of K-pop stars facing violations of their privacy. Less than a year ago, the label representing BTS lodged complaints against individuals responsible for leaking the flight information of their artists.

In an official statement, HYBE announced, "We would like to inform you of the legal measures taken against those who illegally obtained and sold flight ticket information of HYBE LABELS artists, following several months of close cooperation with investigative authorities since the second half of last year." The individuals involved in these incidents were reportedly accused of generating profits ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of won through the sale of artists' flight details.

The phenomenon of obsessive fans, often referred to as sasaeng fans, continues to afflict K-pop idols. 

The boy group ENHYPEN, which operates under the same HYBE umbrella as BTS, has also experienced similar harassment from obsessive stalkers who unlawfully accessed the group's flight information and selected seats in proximity to the members while disabling the option to change seats. The airline confirmed that these intrusive individuals had exploited ENHYPEN's personal information to establish a membership.

In a troubling incident late last year, Sunwoo, a member of THE BOYZ, was attacked in his own home. Additionally, there have been numerous instances of invasive fans subjecting idols to mental harassment, as evidenced in the case involving NCT's Renjun.

Despite the companies' assertions of a "zero-tolerance" policy towards such behaviour, sasaeng fans continue to be a persistent issue within the South Korean entertainment industry.

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