BTS member V became the latest target of an extreme fan's stalking, prompting his agency, Big Hit Music, to take a firm stance. The unrelenting stalking of top stars continues to be a bitter pill to swallow for the industry.
On October 27 (KST), Big Hit Music stated, "We have a zero-tolerance policy towards stalking crimes that violate our artist's privacy and threaten their safety."
According to the police, a woman in her 20s, identified as Ms. A, attempted invasive stalking behaviors, such as following V into his residence's elevator and trying to initiate direct communication with him. It was reported that Ms. A had waited near V's home and then approached him. After the stalking incident was reported by the security personnel, the police identified and apprehended Ms. A.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Ms. A had previously visited V's home multiple times. Consequently, the police issued an emergency protective measure for V, which prohibits Ms. A from approaching within 100 meters of V and forbids any form of contact, including calls and messages. The police also intend to investigate the details of Ms. A's actions.
The series of unsettling incidents involving celebrities being indiscriminately stalked continues to raise alarms. Stalking is recognized as a serious crime and is known to cause significant stress to the victims.
Last December, a fan in their 40s repeatedly rang the doorbell of the residence shared by singer Rain and actress Kim Tae-hee. According to the police, this fan had rung their doorbell a staggering 14 times from March to October. Eventually, the fan was charged without detention on December 29 for violating the anti-stalking law.
Rain and Kim Tae-hee, known to be living with their two daughters, are perceived to be under increased stress due to such stalking incidents. Pop culture critic Kang Tae-kyu emphasized, "Stalking celebrities is a severe crime that has been ongoing for a long time. The punishment for stalking should be more severe than it currently is. It is a crime that must be eradicated."
Meanwhile, V continues his individual activities as some members of BTS have enlisted in the military. He released his solo album 'Layover' on the 8th of last month and subsequently engaged with fans through various music broadcasts and entertainment programs.
