'Lovely Runner' star Byeon Woo-seok suffers from invasive 'sasaeng' fans
Actor Byeon woo-seok / Courtesy of Varo Entertainment
Actor Byeon Woo-seok, who rose to stardom for his role in the tvN drama "Lovely Runner," is suffering from the invasive behavior of "sasaeng," or obsessive fans. These overzealous fans have caused distress by appearing uninvited at private schedules, leaving Byeon and his team in a difficult situation.
Varo Entertainment, the agency for the actor, said it will take strong measures against privacy invasions.
Through the actor's official online fan cafe, the agency said, "Recently, there have been situations where crowds during the artist's activities have disrupted order and raised safety concerns. We are providing this guidance to protect our artist and to foster a more mature fandom culture."
The agency urged fans to stop visiting unofficial schedules, citing significant harm to both the artist and event organizers.
"During visits to official schedules, to prevent safety accidents due to crowd congestion, please refrain from actions such as closely approaching the artist, directly handing over letters and gifts, and any other behavior that could endanger both fans and the artist," it said.
To prevent safety accidents, the agency asked fans to deliver letters and gifts to the manager instead. "If possible, please send letters and gifts to the company address, and the management team will ensure they are properly delivered to the artist."
A scene from the tvN series "Lovely Runner" / Courtesy of tvN
Furthermore, the agency warned against following the artist's vehicle after schedules, visiting private spaces such as residences without permission, taking unauthorized photographs, and illegally obtaining personal information.
It emphasized that such actions would be met with strict legal measures. The agency expressed gratitude for the love shown by Byeon's fans and committed to ensuring the safety of both the artist and the fans.
Recently, Byeon received immense love for his role as the protagonist, Ryu Sun-jae, in the drama "Lovely Runner." He has also appeared in dramas such as "Dear My Friends," "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency," "Record of Youth," "Strong Girl Nam-soon" and films like "20th Century Girl" and "Soulmate."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.