People wait at the arrivals area of Incheon International Airport, Aug. 17, 2023. Yonhap

"An absolute mess," is how Hwang, a woman in her 20s, described the scene when she saw K-pop boy band ENHYPEN arrive at Gimpo International Airport a few years ago.

"There were so many people that it was almost strange no one got hurt. I'm not even an ENHYPEN fan, nor was I part of that chaos, but just looking at that crowd made me feel suffocated," she told The Korea Times.

It is no longer unusual to see large clusters of fans swarming around celebrities at airports — one of the most popular places in Korea for celebrity sightings. Attempting to get close to their favorite stars, these fans often wait at the airport for hours, even carrying around heavy cameras just for a brief encounter with their idols.

Unlike concerts or fan meetings, an airport encounter is free, with no need to engage in fierce ticket battles. It even offers closer interactions, allowing fans to capture up-close photos and videos.

"At first I wondered if they really needed to go to such lengths, but then I also thought about how much they must want to see their favorite idols up close. It's a fairly rare opportunity to get to see and capture photos and videos of your favorite star in person," Hwang added.

Fans of Byeon Woo-seok gather at Incheon International Airport to see the actor arriving from his Hong Kong fan event, July 16. Newsis

A photojournalist from a local media outlet told The Korea Times that it's now "quite common" for him to wait for celebrities at the airport alongside fans carrying "much more expensive, cutting-edge devices" than his own equipment.

"We refer to them as '(data) sellers,' since most of those who carry around huge cameras in airports aren't exactly 'fans'; they sell these photos to fans for money," he explained. "Combine these sellers with regular fans using their phones and photo- and video journalists sent to cover the event and you have the swarm that surrounds the celebrities."

Idol fans can readily locate sellers on social media who offer photos from specific events, including airport appearances, and those who sell flight information of stars. In June, HYBE took legal action against operators of social media accounts accused of illegally acquiring and trading flight information of its artists.

According to the photojournalist, the trend of fans crowding around celebrities at airports began in the 2010s with the rise of "airport fashion." This phenomenon, where celebrities' travel outfits serve as promotional tools, has turned routine departures and arrivals into fashion showcases and as these outfits garnered significant advertising effects, more fashion brands started using celebrities' airport appearances for their promotions, blurring the line between personal space and public display.

"About 10 years ago, when the Korean wave started to gain global recognition, we began receiving coverage requests at airports, marking the beginning of the airport rave. From that point on, not just Korean but also foreign fans started gathering at airports to get a glimpse of celebrities."

Members of K-pop girl group Red Velvet pose for the media and fans in their sponsored airport outfits at Gimpo International Airport as they depart for Tokyo, Feb. 20. Newsis

Too crowded

Park, a man in his 50s who works as a driver of an airport shuttle bus, described the days when celebrities arrive at airports as "incredibly hectic."

"The celebrities pose for photographs in front of the airport exits, at each sides of the crosswalk. Then they head inside, followed by an eager crowd of fans," he explained. "That's when the pushing and shoving starts."

For the sake of safety in crowded places, most celebrities tend to hire security for protection at the airport. This, however, inevitably leads to unexpected clashes between the security guards and some overzealous fans or even ordinary travelers.

One recent incident involved actor Byeon Woo-seok during his departure from Incheon International Airport for a fan event in Hong Kong. As fans swarmed the actor, the six bodyguards hired by his agency started flashing strong lights at them. There were even allegations that these bodyguards overstepped their bounds by checking the boarding passes of some passengers in the lounge, which is not permitted for private security personnel.

K-pop boy band Cravity faced a similar issue when an anonymous user of X, formerly Twitter, identifying as a minor, claimed that they were "struck on the head by a bodyguard when Cravity arrived at Gimpo International Airport on June 23." The user alleged that the incident left them with a concussion and they subsequently filed a lawsuit against the bodyguard.

While excessive security may cause problems, inadequate security might also pose significant safety issues.

Recently, a video surfaced on social media showing the dangerous pushing and shoving of the crowd gathered to see "Queen of Tears" star Kim Ji-won at the airport, raising concerns about serious potential injuries.

Culture critic Kim Seong-soo said the situation poses a dilemma for entertainment agencies.

"Should they increase exposure at airports to boost popularity or prioritize and protect the artist's rights? It's a matter of balancing popularity versus human rights," he said. "Security guidelines are determined by the agency's own standards, but for an agency that profits from an artist's popularity, this is not an easy decision."

A security guard for actor Byeon Woo-seok shines a strong flashlight at others using the lounge at Incheon International Airport, July 12. Captured from X

Safety measures needed

Departures and arrivals of celebrities at airports have become prime opportunities for fans to see them up close, but the large crowds create challenges for everyone involved: the airport, the celebrities and the fans alike.

In response to these safety issues, Incheon International Airport has been under pressure to enhance security measures without further inflaming public debate over preferential treatment for celebrities.

Lee Hak-jae, president of Incheon International Airport Corp., described the recent incident involving actor Byeon Woo-seok, as "ridiculous," expressing regret over "not detecting it sooner," and vowed to implement specific countermeasures, including behavioral guidelines for private security firms in consultation with the police and penalties for violations.

The photojournalist proposed establishing separate departure and arrival gates for celebrities to address safety concerns and security controversies. However, he added that implementing such a solution might be challenging given public sentiment.

"The act of providing security itself is often scrutinized, with debates over whether celebrities are being treated like the 'new nobles' or receiving 'imperial' security. If it became known that there were secret gates exclusively for celebrities, it would likely spark even greater controversy," he said.

Jin of K-pop juggernaut BTS arrives at Incheon International Airport, July 16, after carrying the Paris Olympics torch near the Louvre Museum in Paris. Newsis

Despite efforts to regulate interactions, the most effective way to prevent accidents at airports is for individuals to take personal responsibility for ensuring everyone's safety.

The importance of a mature fan culture in maintaining airport safety was recently highlighted by the example of BTS and its fanbase, ARMY, when group member Jin boarded a flight to Paris for the 2024 Paris Olympics torch relay.

Despite the large crowd of fans at the airport, Jin's supporters adhered to the designated safety lines and cheered him on from a distance, while the star personally greeted each fan as he entered the terminal.

"The agency's response is also crucial. BTS' management is a good example, having coordinated with Incheon International Airport to create safe pathways," the photojournalist noted..

Critic Kim also emphasized the importance of heightened awareness among the fanbase, as well as decent management from the agencies' side.

"If a fanbase sees itself as playing a role in the artist's success, it tends to avoid major safety issues. These fanbases understand the importance of protecting the artist and their reputations, allowing for self-regulation even at airports. Problems arise when a relatively small artist suddenly skyrockets to stardom or if the agency is too small to have prepared proper guidelines," the critic explained.

"Currently, the most effective method of control is voluntary regulation within the fanbase, while agencies should constantly communicate and monitor the fans. Additionally, fans should avoid consuming content that disregards safety regulations. If issues persist, fanbases should consider internal measures to expel problematic members," he added.