One of the biggest debates in K-Pop has been the issue of crowds at the airport. While fans usually get criticized, the huge number of official media outlets that are allowed close to the idols also come under criticism for not giving idols room and always publicizing idols’ schedules.
[LIVE] 세븐틴, 서울김포비지니스항공 출국 SGBAC Airport Departure 24.1.18 #Newsen https://t.co/JDUbrzcVxK 출처 @YouTube #세븐틴 #Seventeen #에스쿱스 #조슈아 #준 #호시 #원우 #우지 #디에잇 #민규 #도겸 #승관 #버논 #디노 #출국 #Departure #공항패션 pic.twitter.com/7Tt5k1F4Mh
— Newsen(뉴스엔) : Press, Teddy KIM (@newsenstar) January 18, 2024
[] ‘엔하이픈(ENHYPEN)’ 인천국제공항 출국https://t.co/QMfK7VSHEs
#엔하이픈 #ENHYPEN #정원 #희승 #제이 #제이크 #성훈 #선우 #니키 #JUNGWON #HEESEUNG #JAY #JAKE #SUNGHOON #SUNOO #NIKI #공항패션 #공항 #출국 #airport #dipe #디스패치 #dispatch pic.twitter.com/seNnX2eIP3
— koreadispatch (@_koreadispatch_) January 18, 2024
One Chinese idol that has gained praise for “shouting” at photographers is Wang Junkai.
Chinese idol Wang Junkai | Weibo
The 24-year-old idol debuted back in 2013 at the age of 13 as part of the famous boy group TFBOYS. With so much experience and time in the industry, Wang Junkai has had his experiences with photographers at the airport. Yet, it seems like it got too much for the idol when he was greeted for a flight by paid photographers.
As he spots the paid photographers (referred to as daipais in Chinese), the idol gets extremely angry at them, disturbing a public place, so he shouts, “You daipais….Can you take responsibility?”
Your browser does not support video.
He then goes on to say, “Do you have any sense of public morality?” calling them out for crowding the airport and causing a disturbance to normal people trying to just live their lives.
Your browser does not support video.
When the video was shared online, the idol was praised for standing up for not only artists but the public who are disturbed by paid photographers. Many fans watching also wished that K-Pop idols would do the same, as there have been many “traumatizing” incidents at airports.
they’re always disturbing passengers at the airport and artists are the ones who have to apologize later. i would’ve had enough of it too https://t.co/gkcijnKoz5
— 𝓜. (@saintisle) January 17, 2024
I really wish these stalkers would let the artists breathe my god https://t.co/1tQ4lRtPuk
— Yibo_L ♡ (@Yibo_baobeii) January 17, 2024
i wish someday kpop idol will got the balls to call out these morons. https://t.co/bAV70PCGoU
— pahala (@mingdanmeng) January 17, 2024
Others shared that despite being so young, Junkai has dealt with this for so long, and while trying to avoid busy times at the airport, many said he must be at his wit’s end to explode like that.
Do u know how much it takes for him to be this angry? He has dealt with this for over 10 yrs. His years in c-ent have def led him to be more restrained and patient in public and his emotions r more stable. For him to be this angry, just shows how they’ve touched his bottom line https://t.co/AMq3dBp7W7
— christina (@wangjunkaist) January 17, 2024
He went to airport purposely at 3/4 am/ earliest morning to avoid making a crowd so it wouldn’t disturb others but the daipai still made the chaos
I feel so bad for him https://t.co/sBL0I5TYL0
— chan (@dlitechan) January 17, 2024
The fact he’s only 24 but he’s been dealing with this type of shit for over 10 years now. He’s constantly been stalked and constantly has had cameras in his face all the time wherever he fucking goes since he was 13/14 … https://t.co/AMq3dBp7W7
— christina (@wangjunkaist) January 17, 2024
No matter which country they are from, idols are always subjected to huge crowds at the airport, and they can sometimes be dangerous and invade privacy. For many, Wang Junkai had the perfect response, and many hope other idols have the same confidence to call them out.