A single comment from BTS member V has sparked a fan movement aimed at reducing the risk of crowd-related accidents during celebrities’ airport schedules.
Recently, V expressed his concern over disorderly fan behavior at airports and suggested reviving the voluntary “Purple Line” campaign. Through the fan community platform Weverse, V said, “If order is well maintained at the airport, I think I could put more thought into my airport fashion and greet fans in a cooler way.” His remark is interpreted as a concern that the overheated contact between fans and artists at airports causes discomfort not only for himself but also for everyone present.
The “Purple Line” V referred to was a campaign spontaneously launched by some fans in 2018 to maintain order at airports. Fans used purple ribbons to secure a safe distance from the artists, managed BTS’s movement lines, and worked to reduce congestion within the airport.
Following V’s statement, fans have begun calling for the revival of the “Purple Line.” They responded with comments such as, “We need to maintain order so the artist doesn’t feel uncomfortable,” and “If the Purple Line is reactivated, everyone will be safer and happier.”
Idols’ arrival and departure schedules often draw huge crowds of fans and reporters, causing congestion. Airport entrances and waiting areas frequently become packed, disrupting the movement of regular passengers and creating significant inconvenience.
Efforts by agencies to protect airport users’ safety have sometimes backfired, turning into accusations of “excessive security.” A notable case occurred this past June, when Hearts2Hearts faced controversy while departing for China. At Incheon International Airport’s shuttle train platform, a woman who had bumped into a member was elbowed in the face and pushed in the neck by a security guard. A video of the incident spread across social media, and the footage was later broadcast on JTBC‘s ‘Crime Chief.’
That same month, NCT WISH also faced an excessive security controversy during their airport movement. One fan claimed that security personnel pushed her against a wall and struck her head. She later reported suffering aftereffects such as dizziness and nausea.
As public criticism grew, SM Entertainment released a statement regarding the Hearts2Hearts case by saying, “It was a situation where we were trying to prevent excessive approaches by Sasaeng fans,” and promised to prevent a recurrence. Public sentiment, however, remained cold. The victim reported a four-week recovery period for injuries to her cervical and lumbar spine, upper arm, and head, criticizing the guard’s response as “treating fans like animals.”
It adds further regret that the original “Purple Line” created by ARMY (BTS’s fandom) disappeared due to “jealousy” among fans. At the time, some accused the “ARMY Safety Corps,” which had taken the lead in forming the Purple Line, of using it as a chance to see BTS members up close. Now, however, many fans in online communities recall, “Even back then, many people turned their backs to the members and worked hard to form the ‘Purple Line’,” and are voicing support for reviving the practice in the same spirit.
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