South Korean celebrities feel pressure on ‘airport catwalk’

The airport is one of the most unlikely places to dress up, as it is a place where people prefer comfortable outfits more suitable for long plane rides.

Recently, however, South Korean celebrities have become overly conscious about what to wear at the airport as media and paparazzi quickly spread pictures of them, with the public becoming fashion judges.

“I feel so much pressure when I go to the airport,” said Heo Ga-yun, a member of K-pop girl group 4Minute, on a talk show. Her colleague Hyuna also revealed that she had seen Heo coming back to their studio with loads of shopping bags full of clothes a day before going to the airport.

Other Korean girl groups such as Girls’ Generation and Sistar also revealed they change into training suits once they get on board, where there are no more paparazzi camera flashes. Dasom from Sistar said she can no longer go to the airport with casual clothes, but sometimes feels “doubtful” about it.

Stars who prefer to be comfortable rather than fashionable, like Han Seung-yeon from Kara, are often publically shamed. Han was called a “fashion terrorist” when she appeared at the airport in ordinary clothes. Now she said she “tries on dozens of clothes” before she heading out.

“To be frank, I get notified when there are reporters and paparazzi at the airport, and I start to think about what to wear once I get a call,” said a South Korean actress, hinting that the airport has now transformed into an invisible fashion catwalk to flaunt one’s cleverly staged daily style.

Jin Eun-soo, Intern reporter
(janna924@heraldcorp.com)