Controversy grows over recording of JYJ allegedly assaulting fans

Published : Mar 7, 2012 - 21:02 Updated : Mar 8, 2012 - 08:34

Controversy over fans invading the privacy of K-pop stars and the performers’ sometimes violent reactions is growing after the release of an audio recording of JYJ allegedly hitting and swearing at fans.

The 10-minute clip released by online news site Dispatch on Tuesday appears to feature Park Yu-cheon cursing at a fan on the phone, accusing them of invading his privacy. The clip is reported to be from 2009.

JYJ. (CJeS Entertainment)

What appears to be another member, Kim Jae-jung, can also be heard assaulting and threatening fans. He then warns the victims not to report the incident to the police. The fans had followed Kim to a bar, Dispatch reported.

“Do I have to live like this? I’ve been troubled because of you countless times,” Kim seemingly complains in the clip. He even calls after the fans as they run away from him, before assaulting them.

JYJ has been unavailable to comment. On Monday, the members left for a series of concerts in Latin America. The boy-band is scheduled to hold concerts in Peru and Chile on March 9 and 11, respectively. The artists are the first Korean singers to hold exclusive concerts in the Latin America countries.

The group’s agency, CJeS, also hasn’t taken any action yet, aside from to say that it is thoroughly investigating the incident.

A rumor that the three-member group verbally and physically abused their fans, including one asking for an autograph, had begun to circulate last month.

The report, however, is receiving mixed responses from fans and media. Some criticized JYJ’s reaction to their young fans, while others sympathized with the K-pop stars for the suffering caused by so-called “die-hard” fans stalking them around the clock.

Internet rumors have even claimed that some fans have intentionally caused car crashes to see their favorite stars up-close.

By Cho Chung-un and Yoon Min-sik
(christory@heraldcorp.com) (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)

<한글 기사>

JYJ ‘사생팬’ 욕설•폭행 논란

그룹 JYJ가 팬들을 향해 욕설을 날리고 폭행하는 음성 파일이 공개되었다.

한 연예매체는 6일 “JYJ 팬 폭행 음성파일 입수”라는 제목의 기사를 통해 JYJ 멤버 김재중과 박유천이 열성 팬들에게 욕설을 하고 폭행을 하는 것을 녹음한 2009년 파일을 공개했다.

이 매체가 공개한 파일에서 김재중은 자신을 따라다니는 팬들에게 심한 욕설을 하면서 폭행을 가하고는, 심지어 도망치는 팬을 불러와서 폭행하기까지 한다.

또 다른 멤버 박유천은 자신에게 전화를 한 팬에게 욕설을 한다.

이 팬들은 하루 종일 따라다니면서 사생활까지 침범한다는 의미의 “사생 팬”들인 것으로 알려졌다. 김재중의 경우 술자리까지 쫓아온 팬들에게 격분하여 손찌검을 한 것으로 보도되었다.

이 음성파일이 공개되면서 인터넷에서는 뜨거운 논쟁이 벌어졌다.

많은 네티즌들은 ‘아무리 귀찮게 해도 자신을 좋아하는 팬을 때리는 것은 잘못”이라며 비난을 하고 있다.

그러나 일각에서는 스타들의 사생활을 지나치게 침범하는 팬들의 문제도 있다고 지적하고 있다.