Airline staffer faces indictment for selling BTS flight details

From left, BTS members Jimin, V and Jin are seen at Incheon International Airport as they return home from an overseas concert, April 19, 2022. Yonhap

An airline employee who allegedly sold the flight information of BTS and other celebrities to brokers is now facing indictment, the K-pop boy band's agency HYBE said Tuesday.

According to the agency’s public relations manager, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's cybercrime unit apprehended three people, including one airline crew member, in February and March on suspicion of selling the group members’ flight details to brokers, a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act.

During the investigation, police reportedly traced the suspects’ history of illegally acquiring information and financial records, confirming the structure of the profit-making operation. The case was transferred to the prosecution over the weekend.

The nationalities and employment details of the defendants have not been disclosed. Police were unavailable for comment.

HYBE said BTS was not the only victim of the breach. “Other HYBE artists, as well as those from different entertainment agencies, were also targeted,” the public relations manager said on condition of anonymity.

The defendants allegedly sold the flight information for tens of millions of won, while brokers resold it to fans via social media direct messages or open chats.

“For example, a hardcore fan used that information to purchase a seat near an idol group and stalked the members during the flight,” the manager said.

In another incident, a fan on the same flight attempted physical contact with artists.

The agency noted that such privacy breaches have long plagued K-pop artists and it has been collaborating with police for years to bring offenders to justice.

In September 2023, the agency formed a dedicated task force to address the issue. It began collecting evidence from social media platforms and submitted the findings to law enforcement.

"We will respond firmly and hold those responsible fully accountable, with zero tolerance and without offering any settlements or leniency, for the criminal act of commercializing and trading artists’ personal information," HYBE said in a statement.