JAKARTA — Some K-pop fans, identified as Korean "fansites", were recently embroiled in a scandal over their bad behaviour during the 38th Golden Disc Awards held in Jakarta, Indonesia last Saturday (Jan 6).

Korean fansites are professional photographers who take high-definition photographs and videos of Korean idols for profit. They are usually dedicated to a particular idol of whom they are a fan. 

The Golden Disc Awards, held at the Jakarta International Stadium this month, is an annual awards ceremony that honours the best South Korean music. 

The prestigious awards show was packed with sensational performances, such as from girl groups NewJeans and LeSserafim and a showstopper from the award show’s top winner, boy band Seventeen. 

It was, however, disrupted by some concertgoers' rowdy behaviour.

Viral videos circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showed one man taunting other fans at the event. He had to be held back by other people around him while another man made a rude hand gesture at staff members. 

One concertgoer was even seen throwing concert workers on the ground.

A viral post that has received 16.6 million views in four days went: “Earlier in my section, there was a fansite slamming Golden Disc Awards staff. I was so annoyed that I screamed.” 

The unruly concertgoers were eventually filmed being escorted out of the venue by security personnel while still cursing and screaming at staff members.

Korean entertainment site Kpoppost said witnesses reported that the alleged fansites were asked to leave the event because they were carrying large cameras, which were against the ticketing regulations, resulting in a confrontation. 

Indonesians fans have reportedly escalated the incident to the Directorate General of Immigration to ask for an investigation into the matter, with many asking the authorities to bar offending individuals from future entry to Indonesia. 

Korean online communities have caught wind of the incident as well, with many condemning the behaviour. 

One alleged on Korean online forum Theqoo that the fans behave equally bad in South Korea. 

“Those men act no different in Korea. They won’t listen to the venue employees. And they’ll get violent if they think they’re bigger and stronger than whoever is talking to them," the person wrote.

A second forum user pinpointed that the root cause is the unauthorised sale of idol photos.

“It’s a problem that pictures taken like that get sold. We should all refrain from purchasing content from fansites like that.”

Another online user said that he or she recognises the fansites and that they seemed to have a history of stirring up trouble during events: “I’ve seen those men before!

"When the venue guards spotted them and tried to remove them, they refused and started getting violent. I told them to take it outside because they’re being disruptive to other people trying to enjoy the show. They wouldn’t listen.”

One of the men involved in the incident has come out to apologise on his fansite account on X.

Writing in Indonesian on Jan 7, the man said that he was caught up in the heat of his emotions and did not mean any offence to Indonesia. 

“I apologise for offending and disrupting the event, especially for the Indonesian people who attended the Golden Disc Awards event yesterday. I will ensure this does not happen again.”