Korean Netizens Sympathize With The Pakistani Teenagers Who Ran Away From Home To See BTS

Recently the news of two Pakistani teenage girls running away from home to meet BTS stirred significant discussions around mindful consumption of K-Pop. Though the two youngsters have received some passive criticism over the issue, many Korean netizens are empathizing with them.

On January 7, two girls, aged 13 and 14, went missing from their home in Karachi, Pakistan. When the police searched their homes for clues, they discovered that the girls were planning to go to South Korea to meet BTS. The two were found a few days later in Lahore, a city 1,200km (~745 miles) away from their home.

The girls were hiding themselves to be unnoticed or overlooked. They were disguised and garbed in a way [so as to look like boys], according to the constable who found them.

— Railways Police spokesperson

The case brought in a lot of discourse around fan culture and what happens when young girls don’t have the required safe space to engage openly with their hobbies. As the news reached South Korea, many netizens sympathized with the girls while also noting the reality with some humor.

“If only getting to meet them was as easy as coming to Korea… even Koreans living here can’t see them so easily ㅋㅋ”
“Aigoo… child, I live in Korea, and it’s difficult for me to even see them.”
“Something that only a teen can have the guts to do… because once you hit your thirties or forties, no one could pay you to even want to do this.”
“And yet, even coming to Korea isn’t enough to get to see them…”
“They’re going to get far in life with that kind of bravery.”
“I live in Korea, and I’ve never seen them ㅋㅋㅋ they’re such brave kids!”
“I used to think I could go to Hong Kong and see Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, and Leslie Cheung too.”
“Even if you live in the same country, the same city, even the same… district… it’ll be difficult to ever see them.”
“Quite passionate of them.”
“The determination that young kids have will always amaze me.”