Another Video Filmed from a Different Angle Emerges as Controversy Grows
"Unfairly Criticized Due to Past Incidents," Some Netizens Defend the Bodyguard
A video showing a bodyguard of the SM Entertainment girl group 'Hearts to Hearts' pushing and threatening a woman who appeared to be an obsessive fan at the airport has been shared online, sparking mixed reactions from netizens. On June 9, a post titled "Controversy Over Excessive Security by Hearts to Hearts Bodyguard" along with a video was uploaded to an online community. It is reported that on the previous day, Hearts to Hearts used the passenger terminal shuttle train at Incheon International Airport to depart for China.
A video showing a bodyguard of the SM Entertainment girl group 'Hearts to Hearts' pushing and threatening a woman who appeared to be a sasaeng fan at the airport has been shared online, sparking mixed reactions from netizens. Online community
In the video shared online, a woman is seen bumping into a Hearts to Hearts member while trying to board the shuttle train, and the bodyguard is shown forcefully pushing the woman's neck with his arm. The bodyguard stopped the woman and said, "Why are you hitting the member?" Even though the woman said she had a boarding pass, the bodyguard repeatedly questioned, "Why are you pushing the member as you go?"
Netizens who watched the video reacted by saying, "What gives the bodyguard the right to block a train passenger like that?" "Does being a celebrity mean you can block everyone?" and "Are celebrities some kind of royalty?"?criticizing the bodyguard's response as excessive. As the controversy spread, additional videos were later uploaded on social media. In the footage, the woman who was stopped by the bodyguard is seen pushing past the Hearts to Hearts members as they board the shuttle train, then forcing her way in and holding up her phone. Netizens who viewed the additional video commented, "The bodyguard was simply doing his job," "Seeing her intentionally push her way in makes the bodyguard's actions understandable," "Wasn't the bodyguard's reaction actually too slow?" and "It seems the bodyguard is being unfairly criticized because of past incidents," among other opinions.
As the controversy spread, additional videos were later uploaded on social media. The footage captured the woman, who was stopped by a security guard, pushing past the Hats2Hats members as they boarded the shuttle train and then forcing her way in while holding up her phone. Online community
In March, there was an incident where crowds gathered to see Hearts to Hearts depart, causing inconvenience to regular passengers. In the video released at the time, when Hearts to Hearts arrived at Seoul Gimpo International Airport to leave for Japan, the airport was crowded with fans and bodyguards trying to control them. An angry citizen was seen shouting and swearing in response. In addition, there have been frequent complaints from regular passengers about inconvenience caused by celebrity departure schedules at airports. In March, a similar situation occurred during the departure of Sion, a member of another SM group, NCT Wish. In July of last year, during actor Byun Wooseok's departure for Hong Kong via Incheon International Airport, private security staff controlled the airport entry gates, shone flashlights at regular passengers, and checked their boarding passes, which also sparked controversy over excessive security.
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