KPOP Meaning
A sasaeng is an obsessive fan who intrudes on an artist's private life. The word shortens Korean 사생팬, where 사생 comes from the word for private life; Korean news defines it as extreme fans who follow every move of celebrities, including their private lives. Buying artists' flight details to board the same plane and approach them, or cancelling bookings and changing seats to disrupt their schedules, has been reported as stalking. In 2023 HYBE set up a task force against illegal trading of its artists' flight information and gave police evidence identifying the social media accounts selling it. Some account operators were referred to prosecutors in June 2024, and in 2025 three people, including a foreign airline employee, were referred as well.
Usage
Used for stalking-type behavior, e.g. "sasaeng harassment". Keep it separate from ordinary fans.
Examples
- Buying flight details to board the same plane and approach an artist is reported as sasaeng behavior.
- HYBE responded to illegal trading of its artists' flight information by giving police evidence identifying the operators of the social media accounts selling it.
In context
Sources
- SBS News (2024-03-19)
What we checked
연예인들의 사생활동 등 일거수일투족을 쫓는 극성팬을 가리켜 사생팬이라고 부른다
- Seoul Shinmun: Ring that traded idols' flight information caught (June 18, 2024)
What we checked
하이브는 지난해부터 소속 연예인의 항공권 정보 불법 거래에 대응하기 위해 별도 TF(대책 위원회)를 구성…거래하는 다수의 SNS 계정을 확인해 운영자의 신원을 특정할 수 있는 증거 자료를 확보해 경찰에 제출…일부 피의자들의 혐의를 확인해 서울중앙지검청에 송치
- Herald Economy (US edition): Airline staff who leaked BTS boarding information (July 21, 2025)
What we checked
서울경찰청 사이버수사대는 외국계 항공사 직원 A씨 등 3명을…서울중앙지검에 송치…극성 사생팬들은 항공권 정보를 사들인 뒤 같은 항공기에 탑승해 근접 접촉을 시도하거나, 기내식 주문을 바꿔놓는 등 스토킹 행위…항공편 예약을 아예 취소하거나 좌석 정보를 변경해 연예인의 일정에 차질…하이브는 2023년 태스크포스(TF)를 꾸려