NCT Under Attack? Taeyong Responds After Multiple Frightening Sasaeng Incidents
For Korean celebrities, sasaengs (obsessive stalker fans) are one of the worst parts of being in the limelight. NCT have dealt with these stalker fans from the start of their careers, often directly addressing them during live streams when they get calls from them.
taeyong: please don’t call me… that’s so rude… i’m really scared so please don’t call me if you know my number so please don’t call me… please.
someone from america kept calling taeyong… please stop calling him 😖 pic.twitter.com/nlOUKqEkUl
— 태유연 🌹 (@taeyeweon) March 19, 2022
"Sasaeng fan, stop calling please" drop the number Kun 😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/n8CvOMb6d6
— 👑 A R A 👑 | XIAOJUN MC (@thenamesiIove) June 12, 2021
One month ago, SM Entertainment announced they would take strict measures against fans invading the group’s privacy after sharing that a fan broke into Haechan‘s family home.
In a statement titled “We Are Advising In Regards To The Violation Of NCT’s Private Lives,” the company promised to take swift action against sasaeng fan behavior.
Recently, there has been an increase in serious incidents involving the violation of NCT members’ private lives, and thus we are releasing our stance regarding this.
NCT members are currently suffering terribly from acts that involve (fans) showing up to private locations and waiting for them, following their cars, excessive contact and filming during flights, illegally finding out their contact information and calling them excessively, and spreading malicious rumors. […]
From now on, we will severly punish those who trespass, leak private information, and stalk, as well as those who commit other illegal acts. We will take all legal measures available to us and ask that (fans) do not take part in these actions.
— SM Entertainment
Despite this, fans are pressing the company to do more after several incidents involving stalker fans.
On April 24, fans began to trend the phrase #SMProtectTaeyong after it was discovered that a sasaeng fan called Taeyong while pretending to be a mail courier. The stalker fan held a Twitter space as they did so, with Taeyong unintentionally revealing his address to everyone listening.
not many nctzens know this but recently a sasaeng leaked taeyong's address in a twitter space by calling him and pretend to be a courier mail or something. ty said his full address and they reveal it ON A FUCKING TWITTER SPACE. REPORT THE DAMN SASAENGS ACCOUNTS, NCTZENS!!!
— #ThankYouKeita (@julyfirst88) April 23, 2023
Fan accounts quickly worked to compile information to send to the company, which many claimed has not been working as hard to protect the artist as they stated they would. The sasaeng was revealed to have also called Jungwoo and attempted the same thing.
Email to SM legal team: protect@smtown.comhttps://t.co/UL7c9zyIPR
*If you understand Korean you can proceed by lodging report to CJ herehttps://t.co/5h4C1fh8lP
— 툥이 지켜 (@protect_tyong) April 23, 2023
At the same time, a video of Mark Lee began circulating online that showed the artist coming out of a building and walking towards a taxi. The taxi drives off before he gets inside, and Mark chases after, with fans assuming that sasaengs waiting outside took the cab to see where he was going.
just saw the video of mark chasing after the taxi wtf
imagine some random creep goes onto your ride with your destination already set what the fuck happens when that creep gets to that destination no matter if its your own home or family or friends
this is psycho behavior— maddie ◡̈*.。 (@jenn0chu) April 23, 2023
A few days after these incidents, Taeyong seems to have addressed the leak of his information directly, telling fans that they “don’t have to worry so much.”
There has been a not-so-big big deal recently, but I’m fine.
You guys don’t have to worry so much.— Taeyong messaging fans on Dear. U Bubble
Fans have continually called out SM Entertainment, urging the company to take the action it promised.
This nct sasaeng is gettingg out of hand. SM PROTECT YOUR ARTIST.
— kraeyg mwa (@kraeyggg) April 25, 2023
The sasaeng situation with NCT is getting out of hand :(( hyuck falling due to "fans" mobbing at the airport, tyong's address getting leaked, and mark's taxi was stolen. They had the audacity to film him running after the taxi that he booked? All this in just a day???
— ppyong!🌷 (@jaykiprotector) April 25, 2023
nct's sasaeng problem is fucking insane like sm need to start investing in lasers and shit because this is just too much and i say that every time because it gets worse every time
— angel ! perfume (@angelnumberzz) April 23, 2023
This is not the first time fans have demanded more from SM Entertainment, which you can read about below.
