BTS's Flight Information Leaked and Sold by Airline Employee

On July 22, 2025, it was reported that three individuals, including an employee from a foreign airline, have been referred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for illegally selling flight information of popular idol group BTS (방탄소년단) and other celebrities. The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency revealed that the airline employee, referred to as A, unlawfully obtained flight details of BTS and other famous entertainers and sold this information to accomplices for money. These accomplices then distributed the information through open chat rooms on messaging apps and social media. It is estimated that A received several million won in return for this information. The police had previously arrested A in February and two accomplices in March as part of their ongoing investigation.

In response to the issue of leaked flight information, BTS's management company, HYBE (하이브), established a task force in 2023. They identified multiple social media accounts trading in celebrity flight information and gathered evidence to file a complaint with the police.

The entertainment industry has long expressed concerns over the unauthorized release of sensitive personal information, such as flight details, which can lead to significant harm. So-called 'sasaeng fans' (사생팬), who invade the privacy of celebrities, have been known to purchase flight information to board the same flights as their idols, attempting to get close to them or even tampering with in-flight meal orders. Some of these fans have reportedly canceled flight reservations or changed seat assignments based on the information they obtained, causing disruptions to the celebrities' schedules.