I want to purchase RIIZE's flight schedule for April.
“That’ll be 500 won.”
The payment was facilitated through KakaoTalk’s anonymous Open Chat feature. Within seconds, a notification appeared: "Korea→LA, Apr. 8, OZ204." This referred to an Asiana Airlines flight number. The seller then noted, "You will have to verify the departure time and boarding gate yourself." Upon checking, the flight was set to leave at 8:40 p.m. Was this data correct?
By noon on April 8, Incheon International Airport had become a hub for female fans eager to see the members of the six-man boy band. Even four hours before their scheduled departure, plastic chairs were arranged near the airport’s outdoor entrance, and as anticipated, people started bringing out powerful telephoto "camera cannons." Sure enough, the tip turned out to be accurate—RIIZE was indeed seen at the airport that day.
Stray Kids, ZEROBASEONE, BOYNEXTDOOR, THE BOYZ, and SEVENTEEN—all these prominent K-pop groups have their departure times easily found online via platforms like Twitter. Ticket prices for travel routes used by idol groups from April to June can be publicly purchased, usually costing between 500 to 2,000 won ($0.35-$1.40). Many dedicated fans go beyond this; they buy seats next to their favorite idols during flights just so they might touch them or secretly snap photos within the aircraft. Additionally, certain individuals offer more confidential data at an additional cost, including instances where people tamper with artists' inflight meal requests without consent.
The repercussions of this obsessive behavior often affect regular travelers. Gatherings of enthusiasts lead to substantial traffic jams, and the heightened security measures surrounding famous individuals typically result in disturbances. For instance, on March 29, the newly formed girl band Hearts2Hearts found themselves entangled in scandal following chaos at Gimpo International Airport. When the group members arrived at the departure area, an altercation broke out between fans, journalists, and law enforcement personnel, causing pandemonium. This incident worsened due to the influx of people during the weekend. A disgruntled passenger captured on camera exclaimed, "We also have flights we need to catch, damn it!" The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, garnering intense public scrutiny with comments like, "Do these stars think they're royalty?" As negative reactions piled up, the band faced severe damage to their reputation.
In light of recurring events, airport officials have pursued precautionary actions. Last month, representatives from Incheon International Airport reached out to multiple talent management firms with proposed changes aimed at allowing stars to utilize a separate exit point designed to reduce congestion among crowds. This suggestion entailed expanding usage rights for an existing checkpoint typically designated for staff members and travelers from associated urban terminals. Nonetheless, this idea faced significant criticism from the community as being unfairly preferential, leading the organization to swiftly withdraw their plans merely 24 hours prior to execution. Without alternative solutions available, the matter continues without resolution.
HYBE, the management company behind BTS, denounced the trade and acquisition of flight details as "a clear infringement that jeopardizes artist safety" and cautioned that this could result in significant security issues both at airports and during flights. The organization stated they have set up a special task force and submitted an official report to the police.
In February, the Cyber Security Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police arrested a woman in her thirties for allegedly dealing in confidential celebrity travel details. According to investigators, she worked at a Hong Kong-based airline and gained unauthorized access to internal databases, retrieving around 1,000 flight logs from 2023 until recently. It’s claimed that she made over 10 million won ($6,987) through these illicit sales.