YouTuber’s Unannounced Visit to K-pop Star Jennie’s Agency Sparks Sasaeng Backlash and Apology
A prominent Korean YouTuber has issued an apology following widespread criticism for an unannounced visit to K-pop sensation Jennie’s management agency. Her actions were condemned by many as reminiscent of “sasaeng” fan behavior, a term for obsessive stalker-fans.
The term “sasaeng” in Korean refers to extreme, obsessive fans notorious for invading celebrity privacy, often engaging in stalking and other intrusive acts.
In a now-deleted video, YouTuber Song Ji-yoon, widely known as “Potato Turtle,” documented her unannounced visit to OA Entertainment, Jennie’s agency, located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Song arrived equipped with a letter, a bouquet of flowers, and heart-shaped balloons, intending to personally invite the BLACKPINK member for coffee. After ringing the doorbell and attempting entry, she was met by an agency official who politely declined her request, stating Jennie was not present. Song then left the flowers and letter with the official before departing.
This direct approach was part of Song Ji-yoon’s popular “bucket list” video series, a cornerstone of her YouTube channel boasting over 350,000 subscribers. The series showcases her pursuit of 100 diverse goals, ranging from witnessing the Northern Lights in Iceland to exploring the pyramids in Egypt.
Despite being swiftly deleted, the video provoked a significant backlash from K-pop fans and social media users. Critics widely accused Song of trivializing and potentially glamorizing “sasaeng” behavior.
One prominent comment on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted the severity: “Stalking crimes by sasaeng fans are a serious societal problem. Treating this issue so lightly with such reckless behavior sets a dangerous precedent for her young audience. It also appears she’s exploiting a famous artist for increased viewership.”
In response to the mounting criticism, Song Ji-yoon issued a public apology on her social media channels. She stated that her actions stemmed from genuine admiration for Jennie, explaining: “I’d observed many similar types of content from international creators featuring celebrities. I truly never anticipated an actual meeting with Jennie. The video was simply my way of expressing fandom. I sincerely apologize to anyone I’ve caused discomfort.”
The K-pop industry has long contended with the pervasive issue of “sasaeng” fans, whose extreme obsession frequently escalates into stalking and criminal acts against celebrities.
This year alone saw disturbing incidents, including reports of a GPS tracking device attached to a vehicle transporting members of Big Hit Music’s boy group Cortis during their Paris schedule. The agency filed a criminal complaint in May, with investigations currently ongoing.
Furthermore, a separate legal case recently concluded with a defendant receiving a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, following a conviction for trespassing into the residence of a member of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS and stalking the artist.
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