Trio sent to prosecutors in S. Korea for illegally selling BTS' flight information
The foreign airline employee is suspected of illegally obtaining the flight information of BTS members and other major celebrities and handing it over to accomplices, who then sold it through direct messages or open chat rooms on social media platforms.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's cyber investigation unit, which has been handling the case, reportedly secured evidence showing how the employee illegally accessed internal airline information and engaged in financial transactions with the accomplices. Although the exact amount was not disclosed, the employee allegedly received tens of millions of won in return.
Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, Seventeen and Enhypen, was found to have played a key role in advancing the investigation. The company set up a task force in 2023 to address the leak of its artistes' flight information.
Through continuous monitoring, the team identified multiple social media accounts involved in the illegal trade of such data and submitted evidence to the police. This ultimately led to the arrest of the airline employee in February, followed by two additional suspects in March.
The Korean entertainment industry has repeatedly raised concerns about the continued leaking of celebrities' flight booking details, often exploited by so-called 'sasaeng' fans, a Korean term for overzealous followers, who purchase the information to board the same flights as celebrities.
Some even go as far as changing in-flight meal options or trying direct contact mid-flight. There have been extreme cases where fans cancelled their favourite stars' bookings or changed seat assignments.
'The recent case makes it clear that leaking and selling personal information is a criminal offence. We expect (the case) to serve as a strong deterrent against similar crimes in the future,' an industry insider said.
Hybe stated that it will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and upcoming legal proceedings.
'We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes that commercialise and traffic in artistes' personal information. There will be no compromise or leniency. Everyone involved will be held fully accountable,' the company said. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Retrial opens for S. Korean woman who bit off attempted rapist's tongue
Choi Mal-ja was 19 when she was attacked by a 21-year-old man in the southern town of Gimhae in 1964. - The Korea Herald/ANN SEOUL: A South Korean court reopened a decades-old case on Wednesday (July 23) after the country's #MeToo movement inspired a woman to challenge her conviction for defending herself against sexual violence 61 years ago. Choi Mal-ja was 19 when she was attacked by a 21-year-old man in the southern town of Gimhae in 1964. He pinned her to the ground and forced his tongue into her mouth, court records showed. Choi managed to break free by biting off about 1.5 centimetres (0.6 inches) of his tongue. In one of South Korea's most contentious rulings on sexual violence, the aggressor received only six months in prison, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation -- but not attempted rape. But Choi was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The court said at the time her action had "exceeded the reasonable bounds of legally permissible self-defence". Choi's case gained renewed momentum decades later after #MeToo movement, which took off globally in 2017 and inspired her to seek justice. In South Korea, massive women's rights protests led to victories on issues ranging from abortion access to tougher penalties for spycam crimes. Choi filed for a retrial in 2020, but lower courts initially rejected her petition. After years of campaigning and an appeal, South Korea's top court finally ordered a retrial in 2024. "For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal," Choi told reporters outside the Busan District Court ahead of Wednesday's retrial hearing. She said she hoped future generations could "live in a world free from sexual violence where they can enjoy human rights and a happy life". Choi Sun-hye, executive director of the Korea Women's Hotline counselling centre, which supported her case, told AFP that her decision was also meant to "become a source of strength for other victims of sexual violence and correct past wrongs". At the retrial hearing on Wednesday, the prosecution asked the court to clear her of the past conviction, the Busan District Court told AFP. The verdict is expected in September this year. - AFP
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Retrial opens for S. Korean woman who bit off attempted rapist's tongue
SEOUL: A South Korean court has reopened a decades-old case involving a woman who was convicted for defending herself against sexual assault in 1964. The retrial follows renewed attention from the #MeToo movement, which inspired Choi Mal-ja to challenge her past conviction. Choi was 19 when a 21-year-old man attacked her in Gimhae, forcing his tongue into her mouth. Court records show she bit off part of his tongue to escape. While the attacker received a suspended sentence for trespassing and intimidation, Choi was convicted of grievous bodily harm and given a suspended 10-month prison term. The original court ruled her actions 'exceeded the reasonable bounds of legally permissible self-defence.' Decades later, the #MeToo movement, which gained global traction in 2017, encouraged Choi to seek justice. South Korea's women's rights protests have since led to legal reforms, including stricter penalties for sexual crimes. Choi filed for a retrial in 2020, but lower courts initially rejected her petition. After years of appeals, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in 2024. 'For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal,' Choi told reporters outside the Busan District Court. She hopes the case will inspire a future free from sexual violence. The prosecution has now requested the court to overturn her conviction. A verdict is expected in September. - AFP
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Trio referred to prosecution for selling K-pop idols' flight information
SEOUL: Three individuals, including an employee of a foreign airline, have been referred to the South Korean prosecution for allegedly illegally obtaining and selling the flight information of celebrities, including members of the K-pop sensation BTS. According to the Korea Herald, the foreign airline employee is suspected of unlawfully accessing and acquiring the private flight details of BTS members and other prominent celebrities. This sensitive information was then allegedly passed on to accomplices, who proceeded to sell it via direct messages and public chat rooms on various social media platforms. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's cyber investigation unit, which has been handling the case, reportedly secured compelling evidence. This evidence apparently details how the employee gained unauthorised access to the airline's internal systems and engaged in financial transactions with their accomplices. While the exact sum has not been disclosed, the employee is believed to have received tens of millions of Korean Won in exchange for the illicit data. Hybe, the South Korean entertainment powerhouse managing BTS, Seventeen, and Enhypen, played a pivotal role in advancing this investigation. In 2023, the company established a dedicated task force specifically to address the pervasive issue of its artistes' flight information being leaked. Through continuous monitoring, this team successfully identified numerous social media accounts involved in the illegal trade of such data and subsequently submitted their findings and evidence to the police. This crucial cooperation ultimately led to the arrest of the airline employee in February, followed by two additional suspects in March. The Korean entertainment industry has consistently voiced concerns regarding the persistent leakage of celebrities' flight booking details. This information is frequently exploited by "sasaeng" fans – a Korean term for overly obsessive followers – who purchase the details to book themselves onto the same flights as the celebrities they stalk. Hybe has affirmed its commitment to cooperating fully with both the ongoing investigation and the forthcoming legal proceedings. "We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes that commercialise and traffic in artists' personal information," the company said. "There will be no compromise or leniency. Everyone involved will be held fully accountable."
