Obsessive fans pose threat to K-stars' safety

The darker side of fame continues to haunt stars, as the South Korean entertainment scene was recently rocked by a series of incidents involving "sasaeng" obsessive fans who engage in behaviours that invade the privacy of celebrities, including stalking.

Entertainment, home to the K-pop group The Boyz, revealed on its fan-cafe site on Nov 14 that member Sunwoo was ambushed as he was returning home by a sasaeng fan hiding in the emergency stairwell of the building where the group members live.

"During the process of restraining the sasaeng fan, who was attempting to flee, (Sunwoo and a staff member) were repeatedly assaulted. The individual has been arrested as an offender on charges of trespassing and assault, and a police investigation is currently under way," the agency reported.

It also disclosed that The Boyz have been facing repeated unauthorised visits from sasaeng fans to places where the group frequents, such as the agency, hair salons and their home, as well as airports and flights. It added that it recently discovered a GPS tracker attached to The Boyz's vehicle and deliberate damage to another vehicle's tyres.