South Korean label Starship Entertainment has apologized for the overly aggressive actions taken by security against a fan of its boy group, Cravity, at an airport last month.
Starship apologizes after the K-pop agency posted an official statement to the boy band’s fan community on Monday in response to a fan’s post on X. The fan claimed that Cravity’s security guard physically assaulted and mocked them at Gimpo International Airport on June 23, when the band returned to Korea from promotional events in Japan. The fan, who is a teenager, was later diagnosed with a concussion and said they plan to file a lawsuit against the security firm. Starship apologizes to the fan, acknowledging the incident and expressing regret over the situation.
After the incident, Starship apologizes to all fans and anyone affected by the violent security measures. They also announced that they had ended their contract with the security firm responsible for the boy band’s on-site security. In their official statement, Starship apologizes and promises to “establish new security protocols” to ensure “the safety of fans as well as artists.”
In South Korea, excessive security measures for celebrities at airports continue to be a common issue that angers the public. Starship apologizes for any distress this incident may have caused in light of similar recent events. For instance, South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok faced criticism for his security team’s aggressive actions against fans and travelers at Incheon Airport on July 12. The guards reportedly shone flashlights at fans to stop them from filming and blocked the boarding gate for 10 minutes so Byeon could board first.
In response, Incheon International Airport Corp. CEO Lee Hag-jae said during a Land Infrastructure and Transport Committee meeting on Wednesday that the airport takes partial responsibility for the inappropriate security measures, which he described as “illegal.” Starship apologizes, recognizing the broader issue of security misconduct. Lee added that the airport plans to implement new rules for private security firms and increase penalties for such misconduct. Starship apologizes once more, stating its commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future.
