There are some things I’m just too old to understand, and I guess the love of K-pop is one of them. But it made me smile to see how many young people were waiting and hoping for a K-pop star to show up at Seoul Gimpo Airport.
K-Pop paparazzi waits impatiently at Seoul Gimpo Airport
As we left the baggage claim at Seoul Gimpo, I was surprised to see hundreds of people – mostly young women – waiting outside the sliding doors in the arrivals hall. All of them had cameras or cell phones with cameras and some even had ladders.
My colleague explained to me that they were waiting for K-pop (Korean pop music) stars… and that the situation had now become so bad that Kroean Air and Asiana, the two South Korean airlines, had specifically restricted ticket refunds once passengers reached the security area of the airport (behind security and immigration checks).
It seems that many young people booked refundable premium cabin tickets to hunt for K-pop stars in the airport lounges, gate area, and even on board. Yes, in many cases, fans booked first class tickets, boarded the flight, asked for photos with the K-pop star, then cancelled their tickets before boarding and demanded a refund.
The problem got so bad that Korean Air drastically increased the cost of a last-minute cancellation fee in 2018. Nowadays, most fans don’t participate in such tricks, but many still hope to catch a glimpse of their favorite star upon arrival.
I stopped to take a photo of the photographers and received a rather ridiculous reaction: many covered their faces or turned away when they saw me taking photos.
What is good for the goose is also good for the gander…?
Living in LA, I’m a little surprised I don’t see more of these at Los Angeles International Airport. But with PS (Private Suite) at LAX, every major celebrity gets to walk past the public (heck, even some of my Award Expert clients who are much lower down the celebrity food chain take advantage of this option).
DIPLOMA
If you’re traveling to Seoul Gimpo or Incheon airports, keep an eye out for paparazzi hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite K-pop star. This is another interesting cultural quirk of traveling in South Korea.
