Destinations known | Why K-pop and airports don’t mix: after scenes of chaos at Bangkok hub, authorities take note
- Legions of obsessive superfans have sparked mass hysteria – and mass annoyance – at airports across Asia
- Hong Kong International Airport keeps commotion to a minimum, unlike recent incident at Suvarnabhumi
For most people of sound mind, an airport is not somewhere in which to spend any more time than absolutely necessary. Even those types who dutifully turn up to check-in desks at least two hours before their scheduled departure aren’t, at other times, inclined to dilly-dally in the perma-lit arrivals area for anyone other than their long-lost brother/mother-in-law/prodigal son.
K-pop fans, however, are not always of sound mind. Rather than a necessary evil that must be endured to get from A to B, for Blinks or the BTS Army, airports provide a rare point of contact with their idols in Blackpink and BTS, respectively, the terminals becoming scenes of mass hysteria – and mass annoyance, as travellers across Asia are discovering.
According to a recent article in the Bangkok Post, devotees of nine-member boy band NCT 127 (NCTzens) swarmed the Thai capital’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 23 to wave their heroes off. “Fans were seen trying to get inside areas off-limits to non-travellers and standing on parked luggage trolleys outside the departure area just to get a glimpse of their favourite singers,” the English-language newspaper reported. Airport counters were inaccessible in the crush and footage has emerged of fans apparently forcing their way into a first-class lounge, much to the bemusement of actual front-end passengers.
Suvarnabhumi’s management has vowed to crackdown on such wanton behaviour, outlining plans to fence fans into designated areas and threatening fines or legal action against any who make too much noise or obstruct other airport users.
