Sasaeng

Synonyms:	Stalker, Fansite
See also:	K-pop, Kdrama, Hallyu, stan, anti-fan
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Sasaeng (Hangul: 사생) is a Korean term that refers to an obsessive fan who stalks or engages in other behaviour constituting an invasion of the privacy of celebrities, specifically Korean idols, drama actors or other public figures. The actions of sasaengs are seen as a societal issue in South Korea.

Meaning and Origins

"Sasaeng" is a shortened version of the Korean phrase 사생팬 ("sasaeng pan"), which literally means "sasaeng fan." The term "sasaeng" itself in Korean is composed of 사 ("sa") meaning private and 생 (“saeng”) meaning life. So, the term can be directly translated into English as "private life fan." means life in reference to fans’ all-encompassing obsessions with their preferred artists.

Sasaeng behavior first emerged in the 1990s with the 1st generation of kpop idols such as H.O.T. and g.o.d. The term, however, would come into prominence during the second generation of K-pop with groups such as TVXQ, Wonder Girls, Girls Generation, and Shinhwa.

The term rose again in popularity to expand in usage outside of South Korea and Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic where K-Pop Stan Twitter grew. Today, sasaengs are found across the world and the term is recognizable in all K-pop stan communities. However, the term is not officially registered in any language dictionary and is classified as internet slang.

Characteristics

Most sasaengs tend to be teenage girls or young women, between the ages of 13 and 22. Many are believed to come from wealthy backgrounds, which funds their obsessive behavior, which typically will consume the individual's life.

Typically, sasaengs are motivated by a desire to be noticed by the object of their obsession and to differentiate themselves from other fans.

While it is difficult to ascertain just how many sasaeng fans there are, entertainment industry managers have indicated that popular celebrities will have around 500 to 1,000 of these fans, and, "on any given day... [they] have at least 100 full-time stalkers on their heels." Though, as these numbers date from 2012, these estimates may be out of date.

The exact definition of who is a sasaeng can be hard to determine, with some fans disagreeing on exactly who qualifies as such.

Sasaeng vs. Fansite

Sasaengs and fansites are intertwined together as fansites are the larger culture sasaengs exist under. Not all fansites are sasaengs, but many are connected together to gather information about events to take photos and videos at.

Behaviors exhibited by both might include carrying large cameras with expensive lenses to take photos and videos of K-pop idols at concerts, fansigns, and the airport to sell as fansites; crowding idols at airports; and creating unofficial products with the photos they take such as cup sleeves, keychains, posters, photocards, and postcards to sell. Sometimes the sale of unofficial merchandise will actually be a scam.

Sasaeng vs. Anti-fan

Sasaengs and anti-fans will often exhibit obsessive and intrusive behaviors that appear similar. However, the main distinction is that, while sasaengs claim to act out of love, anti-fans are fueled by hatred. One incident often attributed to a sasaeng that was actually committed by an anti was the 2006 poisoning of TVXQ member Jung Yunho. Jung was handed a drink by a fan, and consumed it, unaware that the fan had laced it with glue out of a desire to kill the singer. After being hospitalized, he thankfully made a full recovery.

International Similarities

Sasaengs are a phenomenon specific to Korean culture, though these tactics have been adopted and used by international fans. While Sasaeng culture is most common in South Korea fan stalking (especially in America) is a common practice in celebrity fandoms internationally. Cultures differ, but many toxic fans share similar goals in illegally obtaining private information in an attempt to get closer to a celebrity.

Sasaeng activity has also been observed among international fans. For instance, one American fan gained widespread infamy in the English-speaking kpop after (allegedly) breaking into the hotel room of NCT member Jaehyun, filming the footage, and posting it online.

Potential Causes

There is not one single reason to explain the phenomenon of the sasaeng in Korean culture. One theory has to do with physical accessibility. As South Korea is a small country, it is fast, easy, and inexpensive to travel compared to other nations. Moreover, the residences of Korean celebrities also tend to be fairly accessible, as most live in apartment buildings with many private citizens instead of an isolated mansion or a gated community.

Another frequently cited reason is the nature of the industry and how entertainment agencies market their talent. Celebrities, specifically idols, are marketed in a way that encourages fans to feel a close connection with the object of their fandom. As a result, parasocial relationships are heavily important in the industry. Sasaeng fans, as a result, can be seen as a toxic manifestation of these parasocial bonds.

Practices

Information Collection

Sasaengs often collect private information about and contents from K-pop idols that can include, but are not limited to, airport boarding information, photos from private events, photos from an idol's hacked phone, bodily fluids (urine, feces, sweat), and clothes/performance pieces/accessories.

Private information and contents are illegally collected for sasaengs to take photos and videos of idols and gain access to them. This private information is often collected through illegal means and connections. In South Korea, sasaengs are commonly organized in groups. In outside countries and especially in Los Angeles, California, sasaengs are organized in groups and often directed by other sasaengs from South Korea.

Social media has increased the ease of spreading this information, with much information shared on digital platforms such as Twitter and the messaging app KakaoTalk. Fans have also known to hack social media accounts and emails in order to collect information.

Other Activities

Sasaengs have been known to stalk celebrities. In doing so, they are known to engage in a variety of activities including following their targets home, invading their private residences, breaking into hotel rooms, crowding them at airports, sexually harassing them, physically assaulting them, installing security cameras to track them, purchasing tickets for their commercial airline flights, calling their mobile phones incessantly at all hours of the day, etc. These individuals have also sent disturbing messages and packages to celebrities, such as one individual who sent a used menstrual pad along with an accompanying letter written in her own blood to 2PM member Taecyeon.

Family members of the idols are not immune, as over obsessive fans appear to have crashed the 2013 wedding of EXO member Baekhyun's elder brother.

Sasaengs smuggle in cameras and other equipment into events to take photos and videos illegally. Large professional grade cameras are usually banned from public events to prevent shootings and bombings because malicious equipment can be stored inside of them. Many sasaengs bypass these restrictions by tying lenses and cameras to their inner thighs to avoid security checks and pat downs. If they are pat down, they may feign sexual harassment by security staff and racism (when outside of South Korea) to continue smuggling in equipment.

Sasaengs have been further found to attempt to gain employment at entertainment agencies for closer access to celebrities. If they cannot do so, they might try to find an employment at an airline or telephone company in positions that allow them easier access to private information.

Sasaeng Industry

An industry has grown in Korea to support sasaeng activities, with private information about celebrities shared for monetary gain.

Some sasaengs themselves have attempted to profit off their illegal activities. For instance, in 2014, one fan announced they had stolen a pair of underwear allegedly stolen from the room of EXO member D. O. The fan was attempting to sell the underwear along with accompanying hairs for DNA testing to prove the objects authenticity (what the purchaser was supposed to compare it against is unclear). The poster also was taking pre-orders as they planned to return and steal more underwear, this time from member Sehun. Other sasaengs have earned money by selling private information through social media platforms.

Another common practice is the so-called "sasaeng taxi". This involves hiring a taxi and following an idol to their scheduled or personal activities. These taxis can charge upwards of $200 USD for a ride, and are known to dangerously speed in pursuit of famous individuals.

Other companies have emerged that sasaengs can hire to spy on fans and obtain information/items when they are unable to do so themselves.

Impact

The actions of sasaengs have a negative impact on both the celebrities and the general public.

Overall, the constant stalking and intrusion can interfere with the victim's mental health, physical safety, and general life functions. Some examples of the impact of sasaeng behavior on individual idols includes:

• In 2021, EXO member Sehun revealed that he receives around a hundred phone calls from sasaengs per day.
• Rapper Zico of BlockB had to move after sasaengs repeatedly tried to break into his home, which he likened to a nightmare.
• Exo member of D.O. described the effects of sasaeng behavior on him personally: “Personally, I even came to develop a victim mentality because of the sasaeng fans. It’s so bad that my mood changes even when I see normal fans. Even my personality changed. I was originally shy and cautious but because of sasaengs, I became even more like that.”
• Twice members have spoken about getting a barrage of phone calls from sasaengs who will not leave them alone, even when they are trying to sleep. As a result, they needed to change their phone numbers rather frequently.
• Kim Jaejoong, member of JYJ and formerly of TVXQ, stated that he frequently had to move homes and change cars for a period of twelve years due to the relentless stalking he experienced.

Sasaengs also cause distress to other employees of Korean entertainment companies. One anonymous manager, who had previously resided with an idol group in a dormitory setting, reported that he would find that sasaengs had relieved themselves outside of their door. The manager also reported that sasaengs would steal food from the dorm. Clearly, individuals who work and live in close proximity with these performers will often face the same violations of privacy and disturbing interactions.

Sasaeng behavior also has a negative impact on the community more broadly. The members of Exo have spoken about how the stalking ultimately harms their neighbors as well as complete strangers. Regular fans will also be mistaken for sasaengs as well. In 2017, an anonymous individual who resided in the same apartment community as the group Wanna One took to the internet to plea for the obsessive fans to return home. According to the poster, fans had blocked their grandparents from entering the building. The fans also camped out on the stairs and littered, which attracted flies.

Moreover, pursuing celebrities with vehicles has caused traffic accidents, endangering the safety of both drivers and pedestrians.

In 2018, a group of sasaengs caused a commercial flight from Hong Kong to Seoul to be significantly delayed. The fans had purchased tickets only to see their idols, and, once they had done so, the group demanded to be let off the plane. As a result, all passengers had to exit the aircraft and reboard.