Then And Now: SM Entertainment Artists’ Scary History With Sasaengs

While being a K-Pop artist is a dream come true for many idols, not everything is smooth sailing after debut. Many stars constantly deal with invasions of privacy from stalker fans in their lives and those of their friends and families.

Most idols have dealt with these stalker fans, but through the years, some of the most notorious cases have been with SM Entertainment artists. Here are some of the most frightening incidents from several artists.

1. TVXQ

The members of TVXQ (formerly DBSK) have dealt with some of the worst experiences with sasaeng fans over the years, including these stalker fans hitting Changmin with a bag of rocks, breaking and entering their home, and, most notoriously, giving Yunho a drink poisoned with glue and causing him to have to be hospitalized.

Changmin famously fought back against a sasaeng following him in a taxi, pulling her out, and arguing with her and the driver.

2. Super Junior

Super Junior‘s Heechul was once driving when he noticed sasaeng fans following him. While attempting to get away from them, he, unfortunately, got into an accident and broke his leg.

Super Junior’s Heechul

Heechul also recently talked about changing his number more than nine times because of how quickly sasaengs would contact him.

3. Girls Generation

One scariest incident with a sasaeng involved a man attempting to drag Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon off stage during a performance. Thankfully, Sunny and the event’s MC were able to save her, though the fan was never punished for his actions.

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4. EXO

The members of EXO have dealt with numerous scary sasaeng interactions, like when a group of fans rented a fake van to try to kidnap the members and when fans cross-dressed to enter the same bathroom as the group.

EXO once even had their hotel rooms broken into where fans installed cameras and microphones recording their activities. They also placed cameras in the hot’s gym to attempt to capture the members.

5. Red Velvet

The members of Red Velvet have frequently expressed concerns about sasaengs contacting them, including Yeri once mentioning she was scared to do live broadcasts out of worry.

Red Velvetl’s Yeri during an Instagram live. | @yerimese/Instagram

6. NCT

In recent years, NCT have had some of the scariest interactions with sasaengs, often inspiring criticism towards SM Entertainment for their lack of action in some cases or even encouraging it by housing fans in the same hotel as the group.

Most recently, a sasaeng was slammed for breaking into Jaehyun’s room, leading SM Entertainment to announce they would be opening an investigation into the matter.

Fan Under Fire After Allegedly Breaking Into NCT Jaehyun’s Hotel Room

While there have been many other incidents with artists, these are a few that fans often recall in discussions. Many are hopeful that SM Entertainment’s swift action against the fan that invaded Jaehyun’s privacy will set a new standard for handling sasaengs.