Fans buy flight info of stars via social media

Certain “entrepreneurs” have taken to social media to sell personal airline passengers’ flight information -- even exact seating arrangements.

Rep. Ahn Gyu-baek of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said at a parliamentary audit Tuesday, “After contacting one of the accounts to see if it really was possible, I was able to get the details of the flight of a state minister.” 

Ahn said he suspected airline officials to be involved in the scheme.

Local broadcaster JTBC reported on Oct. 17 that some social media accounts had been selling the flight details of K-pop idols to obsessive fans.

A journalist from JTBC contacted one of the accounts and was able to obtain the flight details of a well-known K-pop group member for 50,000 won ($45) in just an hour.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)