BTS fans' purple ribbon campaign may be key to fixing K-pop’s airport chaos

BTS member V / Xportsnews

BTS member V has urged fans to behave responsibly at airports, bringing renewed attention to the fan-led “Purple Line” campaign — a movement aimed at promoting safety and order while idols travel.

“The airport doesn’t belong to us. It’s a public space, and I hope everyone respects that," V said during a recent livestream on the fan platform Weverse. His remarks were aimed at fans who have been causing disorder and overcrowding in airport settings.

He added, “If the ‘Purple Line’ could be brought back, that would be great. Then I’d have 10 more minutes in the morning to think about what to wear. If ARMY brings it back, I’ll wear a suit to the airport,” referencing a past fan-organized effort that left a lasting impression.

The “Purple Line” was an airport safety campaign created voluntarily by the BTS fandom, ARMY, in 2018. Around 20 fans gathered at Los Angeles International Airport holding purple ribbons — the group’s symbolic color — while forming orderly lines to ensure the group’s safe arrival and departure.

V later expressed his appreciation by appearing in a photo shoot holding a purple ribbon, a gesture many interpreted as gratitude to the fans who organized the campaign.

However, as BTS rose to global superstardom and eventually entered a hiatus for military service, the Purple Line campaign gradually faded. It also became the center of controversy when some invasive fans, who opposed the initiative, reportedly doxxed or targeted fans participating in the effort — stirring backlash within the fandom.

Despite those challenges, renewed attention is being paid to the campaign as incidents of chaotic crowding and safety concerns continue to surface at airports — particularly as more K-pop stars travel abroad and obsessive fan behavior becomes increasingly aggressive. The presence of security staff and clashes with fans have only amplified these tensions.

While reviving the Purple Line may prove difficult, many agree that a return to fan-led etiquette is urgently needed. Whether V’s appeal will calm the growing airport unrest remains to be seen — but his message is reigniting conversations about responsible fandom in the global K-pop scene.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.