Perilous Celebrity Departures: Is This Chaos Acceptable? [K-Star Departure Wars ①]

The Other Side of K-Culture: The Reality of Airport Wars
Security Clashes and Homma Disorder Leave Authorities Helpless
Neglect and Confusion... Where Are the Regulations?

Editor's NoteK-culture has now grown beyond a mere trend to become a full-fledged industry. The departure of a star is no longer just a personal schedule, but a 'public encounter' with fans and a part of cultural content. However, the disorderly farewell scenes at airports are a dark shadow hidden behind the industry's bright side. This series begins with the question: "How can the expansion of culture coexist with public safety?" Amid complex factors such as the autonomy of fandom culture, the right to mobility for the general public, and the operational efficiency of airports, to what extent should policy intervene, and how should it do so? Through real-world examples, the responses of relevant agencies, and comparisons of domestic and international policies, we seek to explore both the direction of airport safety management and the sustainability of fan culture in the era of K-culture.

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It is truly the heyday of 'K-culture.' K-pop, K-dramas, and K-movies have built global fandoms, establishing Korea as a cultural powerhouse. Yet, behind this dazzling success lies a chaos that repeats without exception: the daily 'departure war' of stars at airports.

Fans, photojournalists, 'homma' (homepage masters), and ordinary passengers become entangled, turning the departure hall into a scene of utter chaos. Automatic doors are broken, fans fall, and clashes between security guards and homma are repeated. Amid swarms of people, stars dash breathlessly, while security guards and managers shout to clear a path. The airport authorities are practically helpless.

Recurring Departure Accidents, Spreading as a Structural Problem

In recent years, Incheon Airport and Gimpo Airport have witnessed repeated incidents during celebrity departures. In 2017, a manager for Wanna One pushed a fan, even coming into contact with a passenger accompanied by a child. In 2018, a bodyguard for NCT 127 assaulted a journalist, prompting an apology from the agency. In 2022, a video showing ENHYPEN's bodyguard roughly pushing a fan reignited controversy, and in 2023, an NCT DREAM fan suffered a fractured rib after being pushed by a security guard.

The bodyguard of actor Byun Woo-seok sparked controversy at Incheon Airport by shining a flashlight at ordinary passengers and checking boarding passes, actions considered excessive security. Incheon International Airport Corporation filed a lawsuit against the private security firm involved. Last month, a video went viral showing a bodyguard at NCT WISH member Sion's departure scene controlling ordinary passengers with informal language and a high-handed attitude, prompting a public protest from an angry passenger. On the same day, at Gimpo Airport, fans and media crowded the departure of rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts, hindering the movement of ordinary passengers. The scene of a middle-aged man shouting in frustration was captured, fueling further controversy.

These recurring departure accidents are expanding from one-off events into structural problems. Airports, originally public infrastructure for entry and exit, have now become daily 'showcase' venues for star departures.

Videos and photos of stars departing spread rapidly through news outlets and social networking services (SNS), making the airport departure itself part of branding. Entertainment agencies and advertisers cannot ignore photos taken at airports. Some fashion sponsorships are based on airport photos, with advertising value reaching tens of millions of won. A single shot of a star at the airport can boost a brand's value.

This 'departure marketing' is spiraling out of control, fueled by the fervor of fandoms. The problem is not just with fans. There are 'pali people' disguised as fans?so-called homma?who use expensive equipment to take photos, then resell the images or turn them into merchandise for profit. Some even book the same flights as celebrities, follow them to the boarding gate to take photos, and then cancel the ticket. Information about stars' flights is sometimes traded online for a fee. A representative from a major entertainment agency said, "Many homma operate through overseas SNS accounts and change their IDs to evade punishment, making enforcement virtually impossible."

However, holding anyone legally accountable is difficult. Entertainment agencies are reluctant to take legal action for fear of damaging relationships with fans, and airport authorities have no direct authority to restrain ordinary passengers. Even when fans are injured by excessive security, or homma clash with journalists, most cases end with a review of CCTV footage and no further action. In this ambiguous situation, airport authorities, entertainment agencies, and fans all become victims. Yet the greatest harm falls on ordinary travelers, who face blocked passageways, delayed check-ins, and repeated near-misses with safety accidents such as crowd crushes.

Amid this chaos, some stand to gain. Stars enhance their brand value through exposure, agencies secure content, and homma profit from selling photos and merchandise. The airport, lacking clear regulations or responsible parties, merely observes the recurring situation, unable to fulfill its role due to structural limitations.

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Chaos Created by Marketing?What Is the Solution?

Lee Hakjae, CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, promised to prevent recurrence at a National Assembly hearing last year, following the controversy over excessive security for actor Byun Woo-seok, stating, "We did not foresee it sufficiently in advance." The airport corporation subsequently introduced a 'detailed response manual for celebrity arrivals and departures' in September of that year, and in October considered operating a 'dedicated celebrity entrance,' but withdrew the plan a day before implementation due to controversy over preferential treatment.

Current airport countermeasures include: strengthening response based on crowd density, controlling private security and prosecuting violations, and sending official cooperation requests to entertainment agencies. However, controversy persists, and solutions remain elusive. With no coordination system among relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the police, it is unclear who is responsible for resolving the issue.

In Japan, information about celebrities' flights is kept confidential, and airports operate fan communication centers to maintain order. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the United States operates separate entrances for celebrities and regulates private security. In contrast, Korea continues to experience repeated confusion as each agency shirks responsibility.

Some fan clubs have attempted to voluntarily maintain order at airports. They have tried to secure movement lines and control fans by mobilizing volunteers under the principles of 'no flash, no contact, no collision.' However, these efforts have clear limitations in keeping up with the scale and speed of the situation. There is a consensus at the scene that voluntary efforts alone are insufficient and not a sustainable solution.

Culture has become an industry, and a star's departure is no longer a private journey. It is a moment of content creation witnessed by millions of fans, and a daily occurrence that consumes public infrastructure. The question is now clear: How can the expansion of culture coexist with public safety? To what extent, and in what way, should policy intervene? Simply hoping that "today passes without incident" cannot solve the war-like chaos of celebrity departures. Before these concerns become reality, a fundamental and effective solution is needed.