K-pop group BoyNextDoor's bodyguard sparks outcry after pushing fan at airport

Social Affairs

Published: 19 Dec. 2023, 16:05 Updated: 19 Dec. 2023, 16:09

K-pop group BoyNextDoor's bodyguard sparks outcry after pushing fan at airport

A bodyguard for BoyNextDoor pushes a fan at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in China on Saturday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A video showing a bodyguard of K-pop boyband BoyNextDoor pushing a fan at the airport has sparked a public backlash.

In the video, the bodyguard pushed the shoulder of the fan, who came to China's Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport to see and take photos of the band as it was leaving the airport.

She fell backward as a result of the push.

The video was uploaded on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

The X account owner said although bodyguards are supposed to protect artists, “they shouldn't push fans like that,” calling the incident “an act of violence.”

Other fans who saw the video criticized the band for reacting indifferently to the encounter, saying that the incident “wasn't protection, but violence.”

On the other hand, one fan said one of the band's members was tripped by the rushing crowd and that the bodyguard was acting out of necessity.

BoyNextDoor [YONHAP]

The band's agency, KOZ Entertainment, a subsidiary of HYBE, apologized for the mishap and promised to prevent such events from happening again.

The company added that it would educate bodyguards better.

Some fans express concern that K-pop idols’ bodyguards have recently become more aggressive and overprotective.

NCT Dream bodyguard may be prosecuted after pushing fan

In January, a bodyguard for another K-pop group, &TEAM, also under HYBE, was accused of being excessive after frisking a fan and conducting underwear inspections.

In February, a bodyguard for NCT Dream pushed a fan at Incheon International Airport, resulting in an injury requiring five weeks of treatment. The Airport Police referred the bodyguard to the prosecution in May.

BY JUNG SI-NAE, LEE SOO-JUNG, YOON SO-YEON [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]