Celebrities speak out against stalker threats, invasion of privacy
As more celebrities come forward about the distress their stalkers caused, concerns are rising in the entertainment industry over the invasion of their privacy, underscoring the darker side of fame.
Seoul police said Thursday that they are investigating a woman in her 30s for allegedly stalking rapper Beenzino.
According to police, the suspect repeatedly visited Beenzino's home in Seongbuk District, Seoul, prompting the rapper to file a complaint. The woman also reportedly made multiple visits to the office of the clothing brand IAB Studio, where Beenzino serves as co-owner.
Beenzino is not alone in being chased by stalkers, as many K-pop idols have been grappling with similar harassment cases.
Lee Jun-ho, a member of the K-pop boy band 2PM, recently opened up about his experience being stalked while appearing on the YouTube series "Salon de Lip 2" on Tuesday.
"The doorbell rang at 3 a.m., so I answered through the intercom ... I was scared, but I had to know who it was. When I asked, the person gave me a random name," Lee said, describing the late-night incident.
He went on to describe another terrifying moment - "One day, I came home, and before the sensor light even turned on, someone called me by 'oppa' (a Korean term that translates to 'older brother'). I was really shocked. I kept calm and asked who it was, and they replied, 'It's me,'" explaining that the incident left him deeply shaken.
Singer Kim Jae-joong, formerly of TVXQ! and now a member of the K-pop duo JX, is another idol who has long been vocal about the dangers of celebrity stalking.
During a July appearance on an SBS radio show, Kim shared a chilling encounter with a stalker who broke into his home. "There were so many stalkers breaking into my dorm at the time," Kim recalled, describing one particularly disturbing incident when a fan entered his room and kissed him.
"One night, I dreamed a woman kissed me. But something felt off - it didn't seem like a dream. When I opened my eyes, I could actually feel the touch. A woman was on top of me, looking down. It was terrifying," Kim said.
Concluding his comments with a plea, Kim noted during the radio show, "I hope people realize that love taken to an extreme turns into fear."
EXO member Baekhyun also recently spoke out about the ongoing harassment he has faced throughout his 13-year career as a K-pop idol. During an appearance on a local YouTube channel, Baekhyun revealed how stalkers disrupted his life, leading him to relocate.
"The phone kept ringing constantly, and it made me so sensitive I felt like I was losing my mind," Baekhyun said. "When I finally answered, they would say all sorts of strange things."
He recounted his experience of moving homes in search of security, only to find it compromised again. "I moved to a place I thought was secure, but even that was breached ... One day, I caught someone suspicious and asked how they got in. Stalkers were 'assembling Avengers-style' between the cars in the underground parking lot," he recalled.
source: The Korea Times
Seoul police said Thursday that they are investigating a woman in her 30s for allegedly stalking rapper Beenzino.
According to police, the suspect repeatedly visited Beenzino's home in Seongbuk District, Seoul, prompting the rapper to file a complaint. The woman also reportedly made multiple visits to the office of the clothing brand IAB Studio, where Beenzino serves as co-owner.
Beenzino is not alone in being chased by stalkers, as many K-pop idols have been grappling with similar harassment cases.
Lee Jun-ho, a member of the K-pop boy band 2PM, recently opened up about his experience being stalked while appearing on the YouTube series "Salon de Lip 2" on Tuesday.
"The doorbell rang at 3 a.m., so I answered through the intercom ... I was scared, but I had to know who it was. When I asked, the person gave me a random name," Lee said, describing the late-night incident.
He went on to describe another terrifying moment - "One day, I came home, and before the sensor light even turned on, someone called me by 'oppa' (a Korean term that translates to 'older brother'). I was really shocked. I kept calm and asked who it was, and they replied, 'It's me,'" explaining that the incident left him deeply shaken.
Singer Kim Jae-joong, formerly of TVXQ! and now a member of the K-pop duo JX, is another idol who has long been vocal about the dangers of celebrity stalking.
During a July appearance on an SBS radio show, Kim shared a chilling encounter with a stalker who broke into his home. "There were so many stalkers breaking into my dorm at the time," Kim recalled, describing one particularly disturbing incident when a fan entered his room and kissed him.
"One night, I dreamed a woman kissed me. But something felt off - it didn't seem like a dream. When I opened my eyes, I could actually feel the touch. A woman was on top of me, looking down. It was terrifying," Kim said.
Concluding his comments with a plea, Kim noted during the radio show, "I hope people realize that love taken to an extreme turns into fear."
EXO member Baekhyun also recently spoke out about the ongoing harassment he has faced throughout his 13-year career as a K-pop idol. During an appearance on a local YouTube channel, Baekhyun revealed how stalkers disrupted his life, leading him to relocate.
"The phone kept ringing constantly, and it made me so sensitive I felt like I was losing my mind," Baekhyun said. "When I finally answered, they would say all sorts of strange things."
He recounted his experience of moving homes in search of security, only to find it compromised again. "I moved to a place I thought was secure, but even that was breached ... One day, I caught someone suspicious and asked how they got in. Stalkers were 'assembling Avengers-style' between the cars in the underground parking lot," he recalled.
source: The Korea Times