Fan Photographers Stir Controversy at University Festivals in South Korea

Festival Season Turns Contentious as Fan Photographers Clash With Students (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 13, 2025 — As South Korea’s spring university festival season gets underway, growing tension is emerging on campuses over the disruptive presence of so-called “home masters” — obsessive fan photographers who descend on student events with professional-grade cameras to capture images of celebrity performers.

“Home master,” abbreviated from “homepage master,” refers to fans who post or sell photos of K-pop idols on social media or fan sites, often profiting from merchandise sales. Widely likened to amateur paparazzi, these fans are increasingly viewed as intrusive by students, who say they obstruct views, break festival rules, and disturb the campus atmosphere.

In response, several universities have begun implementing stricter measures. Korea University, Kyung Hee University, and Sejong University have restricted access to spectator areas, either banning non-students or creating designated zones for outsiders. Sungkyunkwan University capped external attendance at 2,000 people for its May 9 festival and banned large cameras and tripods from seated areas.

The Korea National Sport University, whose festival begins May 15, has gone a step further by setting up a designated “home master zone” behind the student seating area and food stalls. “We were concerned about possible accidents or damage caused by crowded camera setups,” a student council official told Yonhap News.

“Home master,” abbreviated from “homepage master,” refers to fans who post or sell photos of K-pop idols on social media or fan sites, often profiting from merchandise sales.

Some fan photographers have taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to complain about their distance from the stage. However, students have pushed back, asserting that campus festivals should prioritize enrolled students over outsiders.

This is not a new issue. During a university festival in Incheon last May, a home master allegedly posted photos of a student online after being told to stop filming, triggering privacy concerns and backlash.

Experts say the core of the problem lies in the idol-centric nature of today’s university festival culture. “We need to move away from equating the quality of a student council with its ability to book celebrities,” said Lee Dong-yeon, professor of Korean Arts at the Korea National University of Arts. “While students may enjoy idol performances, student councils should also lead the way in cultivating a more distinctive and less commercial campus culture.”

As universities attempt to balance festival excitement with student safety and autonomy, the debate over home masters is likely to persist — unless deeper cultural shifts take hold.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)