IVE’s Yujin was reportedly touched with out her consent by a fan at Incheon Worldwide Airport on Thursday, because the group ready for his or her abroad schedules.The incident occurred amid the group’s departure to Shanghai, China, for a fan assembly occasion. A video shared by media retailers captured the second when the fan reached out and made bodily contact with Yujin, prompting the idol to show and have a look at the person.Nevertheless, the fan later defended their actions on social media, claiming the contact was unintentional. They defined that they have been adjusting their telephone’s zoom settings when somebody behind them pushed them, inflicting their hand to make contact with Yujin. The fan additionally emphasised that her bias—which suggests their favourite member—was Jang Wonyoung.”Did you not see me modify my telephone to movie Jang Wonyoung afterward? If I actually needed to grope, the safety did not block me off so why would not I grope Jang Wonyoung as a substitute? Why would I grope somebody I’ve little interest in?” the fan mentioned.
The incident has sparked renewed requires stricter safety protocols to guard idols throughout public appearances, significantly at airports, the place such interactions are frequent. Followers and netizens expressed concern over the dearth of obstacles or correct crowd management, which regularly leaves idols susceptible to intrusive habits.This isn’t the primary time IVE has confronted challenges associated to privateness and safety. Earlier this 12 months, the group’s company, Starship Leisure, confronted backlash for sharing deepfake content material of Yujin and fellow member Wonyoung on social media. The company issued a number of apologies and took disciplinary motion in opposition to the workers member accountable for the publish.In Might 2024, Wonyoung acquired a selected on-line demise risk, prompting Starship Leisure to report the incident to the police and improve her safety. The company enlisted further skilled safety personnel, reviewed journey routes, and vowed to take robust authorized motion in opposition to such threats.