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BTS star V says stalker fans force group to fly on private jets instead of commercial planes

KUALA LUMPUR — V from K-Pop boyband BTS recently opened up about the struggle of dealing with obsessive stalkers while traveling.

The K-pop idol said it was "very scary" to travel on a commercial flight with stalker fans close by.

The K-pop idol said it was "very scary" to travel on a commercial flight with stalker fans close by.

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KUALA LUMPUR — V from K-pop boyband BTS recently opened up about the struggle of dealing with obsessive stalkers while traveling.

In a broadcast on South Korean live video streaming app V Live, the 23-year-old, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, said the "Boy With Luv" singers have to fly on private planes instead of commercial flights due to safety issues with "sasaeng" fans.

Sasaeng is a South Korean term for an obsessive fan who stalks celebrities, with some willing to commit illegal acts in order to get closer to their favourite idols.

“We travel separately on a chartered plane... We also want to take a (regular) plane, but when we have long-distance or short-distance flights, some people find out in advance (which plane) we are taking and sit in the seats in front of us or next to us," he said. 

“In a situation like that, we can’t rest comfortably. It was very uncomfortable,” said V, based on translations by Korean pop culture website Soompi.

With a solemn expression, he described the experience as being “very scary” and hoped that people would stop trailing them on flights.

BTS’ worldwide popularity has only worsened their problems with stalkers, with V’s fellow member Jung-kook calling out sasaeng fans after receiving an unwanted call from one during a livestream.

Sasaeng fans are infamous in K-pop culture for their disruptive and invasive behaviour, which often includes stalking, visiting the celebrity’s home, harassing the celebrity’s family members, and sending inappropriate gifts such as soiled lingerie or menstrual products. MALAY MAIL

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BTS stalking K-pop

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