BTS is departing through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport to attend the 2021 American Music Awards and hold an offline concert in Los Angeles, USA. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean authorities have indicted a group involved in the illegal sale of private flight information belonging to BTS and other K-pop celebrities, escalating concerns over persistent privacy violations in the entertainment industry.
According to Seoul’s cybercrime police unit on Tuesday, a foreign airline employee identified as “A” was among three individuals referred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for allegedly violating the Information and Communications Network Act. A is accused of illicitly accessing and selling the flight details of high-profile celebrities to resellers for several tens of millions of won.
The leaked information was then distributed via open messaging chat rooms and direct messages on social media platforms. Police said they obtained financial records and traced the structure of the operation, including accomplice relationships.
The scandal highlights ongoing complaints within the K-pop industry regarding “sasaeng” fans—obsessive individuals who invade celebrities’ privacy. Such fans reportedly used the flight data to book seats on the same flights, alter in-flight meal preferences, or even cancel and reschedule celebrity bookings, creating significant disruptions.
K-pop megastar BTS is seen in this file photo provided by BigHit Music on Dec. 25, 2023. (Imae courtesy of Yonhap)
“This case confirms that the unauthorized leaking and trading of personal information is a serious criminal offense,” said a senior figure in the music industry. “Reaching the stage of formal indictment against the source of the leak marks meaningful progress in curbing such crimes.”
HYBE, BTS’s management agency, had formed a dedicated task force in 2023 to tackle the issue and has filed multiple complaints with law enforcement. The company provided police with key evidence identifying operators of social media accounts involved in the illicit trade.
Thanks to this cooperation, police arrested the airline employee in February and two additional suspects in March.
HYBE pledged continued support for the legal process, stating, “We will pursue a zero-tolerance policy against the commercialization and trafficking of artists’ personal information, and we will hold all offenders fully accountable with no leniency or settlements.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
