CRAVITY Bodyguard Assaults Teenage Fan at Gimpo Airport
"No Reason for a Fan to Be Threatened by a Large Man"
Fans Pushed Strongly...Agency Apologizes
Amid ongoing controversies over 'excessive security' for celebrities, a fan of the idol group CRAVITY has filed a lawsuit against a security guard, alleging assault at the airport. On the 22nd, CRAVITY's agency Starship Entertainment stated, “We deeply apologize to those affected by the inappropriate behavior of a security guard who was performing artist security duties at the airport upon returning from CRAVITY’s Japan concert and promotion.”
They added, “We have terminated our cooperation with the security company responsible for CRAVITY’s on-site security,” and “We will establish security protocols and training procedures to prevent recurrence and ensure safety.”
According to a JTBC report on the same day, a person identified as a teenage fan, A, claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that on the 23rd of last month, they were struck on the head by a security guard during CRAVITY’s arrival at Gimpo Airport. A stated, “At the time of arrival at Gimpo Airport, I was hit on the head by a security guard,” and “Even afterward, the security guard repeatedly used an irritated tone saying ‘Don’t stick close’ and inflicted violence multiple times, so I left the scene, but the guard chased me and mocked me with phrases like ‘Try more.’”
A added, “Just because I am a fan, there is no reason to be threatened by a large adult male with filming, violence, disrespectful speech, and mockery,” and “I did not want to escalate the situation at the time, so I left, but after returning home, I was so shocked that I had to go to the hospital.”
The video capturing the incident shows the security guard forcefully pushing the fan, causing them to stagger, and the guard filming A with a camera. In the video, the guard blocks the fans and says, “Come out. I said come out,” and points at the fans, questioning, “Didn’t you push me? You didn’t push me?” When A answered that they did not push, the guard said, “Are you crazy?”
On the same day, A told JTBC, “The area where I was hit hurt, so I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion,” and revealed that they filed a police complaint against the security guard for assault. The security guard explained, “I only raised A’s hand upward and had no intention to hit.”
Earlier, on the 12th, a security guard for actor Byeon Woo-seok was caught checking passengers’ boarding passes in the Incheon Airport lounge, flashing a light, and controlling the airport gate without authorization, sparking controversies over ‘airport privatization’ and ‘personal information infringement.’ The security company involved stated, “(Because it was crowded) we blocked the area with airport security,” but also “We deeply apologize for causing inconvenience to citizens.”
Additionally, in May last year, a security guard for the idol group NCT DREAM was sent to the prosecution on charges of pushing a female fan in her 30s at Incheon Airport, causing injury. The female fan reportedly collided with a wall, fracturing a rib and receiving a five-week recovery diagnosis. In December last year, a security guard for the group BOY NEXT DOOR strongly pushed a female fan filming at Qingdao Airport, causing her to fall, leading the agency to issue an apology.
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