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'They're Sasaengs': Engenes defend Enhypen's bodyguards after they were accused of assaulting female fans

Officials from the airport said, 'The bodyguards did their job,' after Enhypen bodyguards started facing criticism for assaulting fans who mobbed the boy group

Sasaengs are a problem in K-pop and idols as well as labels have taken action to protect artists from stalker fans who think it is a fun exercise to cause trouble and seek attention from idols. From calling idols’ personal phones during live streams to calling their hotel rooms while they broadcast online, leaking their address publicly, or following them at the airport and running into them through the security, stalker fans (sasaengs) have tried it all.

Fans of K-pop are well aware of the antics these stalker fans pull which is why fans have special respect towards the bodyguards of K-pop idols who make it a point to protect their artists in the event of a sasaeng showing up to cause trouble. A similar situation took place on May 16 when Be Lift Labs’ boy group Enhypen was returning back home after completing their overseas schedule.

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Enhypen’s bodyguards slammed for assaulting female fans

Enhypen members were seen at the Incheon International Airport as they were getting back home but it seems like a huge mob of fans crowded them as they were leaving the terminal. The crowd of fans not only mobbed them but also did not allow members to walk out of the airport leading to a situation where the members were left immobile and their bodyguards were trying their best to make a way for the boys to leave the airport.

CCTV footage from the site showed that these bodyguards were kicking several fans who were women as they tried to push fans away from the idols which soon turned into a violent situation causing outrage online. While the fans involved in this violent incident did not confirm or deny the assault, Knetz that saw the clips online started talking about how such instances are pretty common where bodyguards are seen being violent with fans who are more often than not females.

International Engenes defend Enhypen bodyguards

This in fact is not the first time Enhypen members had been mobbed and fans of the boy group were also discussing how fans respected the boys’ privacy as they stood in a queue when they were at the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany and compared the situation to call out Korean fans of the group. Given that their job is to protect idols from being mobbed or attacked while in public, many fans were seen lauding the bodyguards of Enhypen for doing their duty. Kmedia reported that officials from the airport spoke up about the incident saying, “The bodyguards did their job to secure the movement, but such a situation is often seen at airports.”

Not only that but there have been many past instances where fans of the boy group pleaded with the label to have bodyguards to protect the Enhypen members at public events. One fan said, “Enhypen last year before their debut, right after they got out from i-land this is what happened to them & now people never learned and still happened with much even worse. :( Belift should hire more bodyguards please they even barely got in to that 10meters away from entrance.” Another fan had asked, “Belift can you give a bodyguard like this to enhypen?!! please protect them from sasaeng😭 belift protect enhypen please. We as fans are very disappointed with belift because of the lack of security.”

‘They are just doing their job’

Fans of Enhypen on the other hand criticized the sasaengs for trying to invade the personal space of idols and praised Enhypen bodyguards for doing their jobs well. One fan said, “BELIFT, THIS BODYGUARD NEEDS A RAISE FOR PROTECTING ENHYPEN VERY WELL FROM SOME OF THESE RUDE FANS FOR INVADING THEIR PRIVACY.” One more fan siad, “First of all, those girls are not fans. THEY ARE SASAENGS. and they should not be tolerated, just because the guards are doing jobs, enha's gonna be dragged into this? lol stop making me pissed off.” Another fan said, “What even is this headline yall trying so hard, the bodyguards were doing their job as they should.”

One more fan asked, “You're really publishing articles now regarding enhypen's bodyguards pushing those fans when it already happened many times to other artists before? y'all expect this bodyguards to just stay still while these fans tries to invade artists personal space and privacy?” One fan said, “If u just watch the whole vid then u know y did the bodyguard do that.” One more fan complicated, “To those bodyguards who protected enhypen against k-engenes who mobbed them again, I so much thank y'all, what a great job!” One fan said, “Help enhypen's bodyguard just doing their job to protect the artists and yall mobbing enha so their bodyguards have rights to protect them, yall being warned but didn't listen and it's not their fault to push you hard.”

Another fan pointed out, “It is a bodyguard's job to protect the artist and it is clear in this video that the woman was already pushed once, yet she still tried again to get close to Enhypen despite the presence of the big man. That woman deserves that for not knowing her limitations.”