“KCON LA 2024” Staff Under Fire For Inappropriately Manhandling Fans

“Do not put your hands around my waist…”
Stories
Andrea Nolan
Andrea Nolan

While the performance stages at KCON LA 2024 this year have been nothing short of iconic, one event this weekend has left fans furious as staff come under fire for manhandling fans in an “aggressive” and “uncomfortable” manner.

kcon hiwave misconduct
| @Iuv119/X (formerly known as Twitter)

In particular, one post from a BOYNEXTDOOR fan on social media has sparked outrage among fellow fans, including those in attendance themselves. Following the group’s “hi-wave” event, user @Iuv119 took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to demand that “KCON staff do better.” The fan went on to say that during the meet and greet, a member of staff put hands around their waist to grab them and move them along for seemingly no reason, leaving them feeling uncomfortable.

And, the fan had video evidence, sharing a clip in which a female staff member can clearly be seen forcefully moving fans along the line. The X user fan in question, who can be seen wearing a pink hat, was palmed around her waist and pushed aside while passing one of the members, Taesan.

KCON LA‘s hi-wave event, in which fans get the chance to walk along a stage and wave briefly to their idols, was only available as part of the event’s “M&G Premium” package, charged at an additional $120 USD per artist. These tickets don’t include entry to the main concert event, which range up to $870 USD plus fees for a “Premium” three-day pass. Given the high price point for the event, fans’ expectations are understandably high.

kcon hiwave bnd
| @newloft_1129/X (formerly known as Twitter)

So, it’s no surprise that treatment from staff during the BOYNEXTDOOR hi-wave event has drawn fierce criticism. Fans called out the staff for misconduct, calling their actions “rude” and “unacceptable,” especially given the discomfort it can cause.

Some also shared that they had witnessed similar actions from staff at other meet and greets during the event, including ZEROBASEONE‘s own hi-wave.

While some acknowledged that the staff have a job to do, all attendees in the video appear to be moving at a reasonable pace, taking no more than a couple of seconds to interact with each member. As such, many are arguing that if KCON was unable to accommodate the number of ticket holders within the allotted time, then they should have simply sold fewer hi-wave tickets.

Following the original fan’s complaints, many others took to social media to share their experiences, expressing the same frustrations over staff behavior.

The backlash comes hot on the heels of a series of recent incidents in which K-Pop security staff have been accused of being overly aggressive with fans. Just weeks ago, ZEROBASEONE’s security team was criticized by a fan who claimed they were shoved roughly at Kansai International Airport in Japan. Not long prior, actor Byeon Woo Seok‘s team was harshly slammed for “over-the-top” security measures at an airport lounge. That being said, fans of many other artists continue to demand a stronger security presence at events and appearances, highlighting a clear struggle for companies to find the balance.

With the event on its third and final day of performances and greetings today, KCON LA 2024 organizers are yet to comment on the situation.

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