Surprise visit sparks online backlash
A Korean YouTuber has apologized after receiving backlash for unexpectedly visiting BLACKPINK’s Jennie’s agency in an attempt to meet the “Mantra” hitmaker. On July 14, 2026, content creator Song Ji-yoon, better known online as Potato Turtle, uploaded a video showing herself arriving at OA Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul without an appointment. The unexpected visitor hoped to invite the BLACKPINK member for a coffee as part of a bucket list challenge featured on her YouTube channel. The content creator was seen carrying a handwritten letter, flowers, and heart-shaped balloons. When a company representative informed her that Jennie was not at the building, Song asked that her gifts be delivered before leaving.
Fans compare the incident to sasaeng behavior
Although Song affirmed she never expected to meet Jennie in person, many fans criticized the video after being posted online. Viewers said that showing up uninvited at an artist’s workplace encouraged behavior associated with sasaeng fans, a term used in South Korea for obsessive fans who invade celebrities’ privacy by stalking them. After the negative response to the video, Song removed the content and posted a public apology, saying:
“I’d seen a lot of similar content from overseas, where creators often make videos about celebrities. I never expected to actually meet Jennie. I made the video simply to express that I’m a fan of hers. I sincerely apologize to everyone I made uncomfortable.”
Privacy concerns in KPop
The incident has renewed discussion about celebrity privacy within the KPop industry. In recent years, artists have continued to deal with cases involving obsessive fans. Earlier in 2026, several sasaeng fans allegedly attached a GPS tracking device to a vehicle used by members of CORTIS while the group was in Paris. The company later filed a criminal complaint in May 2026, and the investigation remains ongoing. In another case, a defendant received a suspended prison sentence in June 2026 after being convicted of trespassing into the home of BTS’ Jungkook and stalking the South Korean star.
