After news of their scheduled appearance in Jakarta drew some (unwarranted) controversy, the arrival of members of the popular Korean girl band SNSD (also known as Girls’ Generation) in the capital proved to be distressing to at least one member of the group, Taeyeon, who was allegedly groped in her private areas when she was mobbed by fans at Soekarno-Hatta Airport yesterday.
In an Instagram post yesterday, Taeyeon recalled the traumatic incident in a caption accompanying an all black photo:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX5uy5dAMv4/?taken-by=taeyeon_ss
Taeyeon’s caption, as translated by Soompi.com, reads:
“There was such a large crowd at the airport in Jakarta that my feet became tangled up and my body was also, so it was a very dangerous situation. I actually fell to the floor, and I trembled and couldn’t stop crying.
“Perhaps because I looked like I was in danger, the security guard on site came from behind me and lifted me up, which also startled me. I was anxious because of the recurring physical contact from behind me and to my sides, and I couldn’t find any order.
“I am very upset because I think some of the people who were waiting for me also fell and were injured.
“Also, it wouldn’t have been intentional, but there was recurring contact with parts of my body, my behind and my chest, as well as colliding and pulling… I was taken aback by that and couldn’t get ahold of myself.
“That is why I couldn’t appear my best when I arrived in Jakarta for the first time in a while. I’m so sorry to the fans who waited, and please, I hope order will be kept so that we do not get hurt.
“You are our fans who are the most loving and kind-hearted, and can understand each other, so I will think of today’s events as just an accident. I hope that no one is hurt.”
Twitter user @ddongbyullie posted a short clip of security officers escorting Taeyeon past a raucous crowd of fans at the airport yesterday, showing the pop star covering her face, presumably out of distress.
The only glimpse of TY I can get and as u can see the crowd behind her is crazy af pic.twitter.com/C93sNm6oYA
— 똥별이⁴ˣ⁴ (@ddongbyullie) August 17, 2017
Indonesian officials have not released any statement about the incident, including whether or not Taeyeon was sexually harassed.
Taeyeon and several members of SNSD are scheduled to perform at a countdown event for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta today. Their Jakarta trip was previously denounced by some conservative netizens, who wrongly believed that the band, which represented “symbols of prostitution”, were going to perform to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day yesterday.
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