Following IVE member Jang Wonyoung and Cortis, RIIZE member Sungchan has been swept into an airport etiquette controversy.
On the 9th, Sungchan visited the airport with his members to depart for a fan meeting in Japan.
In videos posted on social media, he wore jeans, a black short-sleeve T-shirt, and a cap pulled low for a casual look. While having his identity verified inside the airport, Sungchan did not remove his cap fully and instead lifted the brim slightly. In another clip, as he walked through a crowd of fans, a sasaeng fan came up right beside him to film on a smartphone, and he appeared to nudge it away with his elbow.
As the videos spread across multiple online communities, Sungchan's behavior at the airport became a hot-button issue. Defending him, some netizens said, "Sasaengs aren't fans," "If they hadn't chased him that far and filmed like that, none of this would have happened," and "Do idols not get any privacy?" Others pushed back, saying, "No matter what, you shouldn't hit someone," "Jang Wonyoung gets dragged, but Sungchan gets a pass?" and "He's being sloppy with ID verification again."
Jang Wonyoung had previously faced backlash over how she handled ID verification at the airport. In May, she visited Gimpo Airport to depart for Shanghai, China. Wearing a hat and mask that covered most of her face, she was seen only slightly lowering her mask for a security officer, sparking an attitude controversy along with accusations of special treatment during exit procedures. The uproar even prompted formal civil complaints calling for clearer standards and official guidance on ID checks.
Afterward, Jang Wonyoung appeared to take the criticism to heart. On the 23rd of last month, as she departed from Gimpo Airport for Japan for her world tour schedule, she arrived without a mask, hat, or any face-covering accessories, drawing attention.
Cortis has also apologized after arriving late to the airport and delaying a flight. Recently, posts spread in online communities alleging that Cortis was late to boarding for a flight returning from Paris to Incheon International Airport. BigHit Music explained that boarding was delayed due to road congestion following a traffic accident and offered an apology to passengers on the same flight.
With incidents like these, idols' airport behavior continues to spark divisive debate. Given the intense, often excessive attention focused on them, both artists and fans may need to exercise more caution.