Sasaeng fans are obsessive followers who often engage in invasive and dangerous behavior to get close to their favorite celebrities.
These fans can pose significant threats to the safety and privacy of public figures, making their lives extremely difficult.
Photo via YouTube (오늘의 주우재)
On July 19th, a video titled "Stop Bothering My Brother! | Guest Kim Jaejoong" was uploaded on the YouTube channel "Today's Joo Woo Jae." In the video, Kim Jaejoong discussed the track "Don't" from his latest album, explaining, "The song is about Sasaeng fans. While the song's vibe doesn't convey this directly, the lyrics have elements of black comedy and bitterness."
On June 26, 2024, Kim Jaejoong released his fourth full-length album, 'FLOWER GARDEN,' to mark his 20th debut anniversary. The track "Don't" attracted attention for its critical stance toward Sasaeng fans.
Joo Woo Jae commented, "I heard various stories back in the day. It was like an urban legend about Jaejoong. When I was young, it seemed like a myth," adding, "The Sasaeng stories were so extreme that I thought they were exaggerated for entertainment. But later, I found out they were all true, and the reality was even worse than what I heard."
Kim Jaejoong responded, "Now that time has passed, I can finally tell the truth... but back then, they were really terrifying fans. If Sasaengs went to such lengths, I couldn't talk about it because I was afraid they might retaliate even more extremely."
Joo Woo Jae remarked, "Even with stricter laws and measures, I always wondered, 'How could they get into your house and you couldn't do anything about it?'"
Kim Jaejoong shared, "At the time, the sentiment was, 'They're still fans, how can you talk about fans that way? What's wrong with a fan visiting you? They might even come to your house.' But being stalked for a year is truly unbearable."
He added, "But the punishment for stalkers is only a fine of about 1.5 to 3 million KRW (RM5,600 to RM11,200). The scarier part is what happens after they pay the fine. The fear of retaliation makes you want to move and leave the area."
Kim Jaejoong concluded, "Now, it's actually kind of cute in retrospect, but at the time, it felt like I was going to die."
We hope that with time, Kim Jaejoong has found peace and security in his life. May he continue to live happily and safely, free from the fears and dangers of the past.
