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Sasaeng fan article edits

Motives for Behavior
Many sasaengs operate under the motive of wanting recognition from their idols and wanting to stand out from other fans. A sasaeng fan was interviewed and gave an explanation regarding this obsessive behavior that is shared among sasaeng fans. She was quoted saying, "“I feel like I get to know more about and get closer to the idol I love. If I go to a concert, there are thousands of people attending, so the idol would not know who I am. But if I become sasaeng, they will recognize me. If I keep telling them, ‘I am so-and-so. I saw you at that place before. I am so-and-so’, they will start to take note of me and ask ‘Did you come again today?’ To sasaeng fans, being recognized by idols is a good thing.”"This want for individual recognition from idols is what has fueled some notable acts of sasaengs. Physically assaulting idols is one perceived way that sasaengs believe they will be remembered. In 2012, a sasaeng reportedly slapped Yoochun, of the boy group TVXQ, in the face and justified themselves by saying that the idol would surely remember them from then on.

While sasaengs have formed a network to help spread and share information, the work of a sasaeng is also individualistic. A sasaeng who can get the closest to an idol or can get private information that no one else can will be more respected among other sasaeng.

Sasaeng Fans vs. Anti-fans
Anti-fans are dissimilar from sasaeng fans in that their main goal is to see the ultimate failure of certain idols and groups. In 2006, member Yunho of TVXQ was given a drink by a supposed fan, its contents having been laced with glue and resulting in Yunho being rushed to the hospital. The suspect in this case also had given Yunho a letter, its contents criticizing TVXQ and seemingly threatening the band as a whole. The person who committed the act confessed to being an anti-fan of TVXQ. While both groups have been seen to engage in activities that have caused harm to idols and groups, sasaeng fans are motivated by the idea of recognition from idols, rather than a want to ridicule and prevent the success of certain idols.

Methods and Tactics
Sasaengs have developed various methods for obtaining information about idols and have formed a network amongst other sasaengs to share information and group together in order to accomplish tasks. It has been noted that sasaeng fans who are of older age and are able to get jobs will try to get jobs in industries that will put them closer to idols or idols’ information, such as airline companies, phone companies, credit card companies, etc. In 2017, Brave Entertainment, home of solo artist Samuel, had two staff members fired due to them being sasaeng fans who were following other artists and spreading Samuel's personal information.

With the increased popularity of social media, it has now become possible for idols’ information to be sold for money over various social media platforms, such as Twitter, KakaoTalk, and Instagram. The volume of information that some sasaeng possess covers a wide range of personal information, including home addresses, flight information, cellphone numbers, personal social media accounts, credit card accounts, audio recordings and videos. Some sellers are even willing to sell the methods they use to obtain this information. One seller of such information had tweeted:"“I have pretty much any idol’s information. EXO, BTS, NCT, Wanna One, Produce 101, etc. Audio recordings, Kakao Talk, phone numbers, passports, Twitter [accounts], dormitories, private Instagram accounts, and videos. Send me a DM [direct message].”"The so-called "sasaeng taxi" is another method that sasaengs use to follow idols to their scheduled activities or personal appointments. Such taxis charge an average of $600 a day and will follow an idol or group for the entire day, going up to speeds of 100km/hr and breaking various traffic rules such as running red lights. Drivers of such taxis have been seen outside of venues waiting for customers.

The expense of such methods in both time and money have resulted in many sasaeng fans skipping or dropping out of school, sleeping in Internet cafes, and sometimes turning to prostitution to pay for the expenses of sasaeng activities.

In 2014, a 21 year-old woman was arrested for selling fraudulent merchandise of the band EXO. Most buyers never received their products, or later found that the woman had sold them products that had actually been rented. She admitted that the money she had accumulated, which was around 4.7 million won (about $4,583) would have been used to pay for the expenses of closely following EXO.

Responses from Idols and Companies
Entertainment companies, idol groups, and individual idols have responded to sasaeng activity through social media or in interviews. Soompi, a site dedicated to sharing Korean pop culture news with readers around the world, has documented many of these cases. In July of 2018, Brian, a member of the R&B duo Fly to the Sky, stated in an interview that he had been receiving packages to his personal address and was worried not only for himself, but also his family who were also being harassed. He stated, "I want to know what this person’s reason is for leaving comments this bad, and I want them to stop." Other individual responses include GOT7's Mark and Youngjae, SHINee's Key, Girls' Generation Taeyeon, EXO's Lay, and Ailee, all of whom addressed sasaeng fans for following idols back to their residencies, flooding idols' phones with calls and texts,   taking unwanted videos and pictures of idols, and following idols on their schedules.

In 2013, the group EXO collectively expressed their frustration towards sasaengs and noted the unfair treatment that their "normal" fans receive from being often mistaken for sasaeng. Member Suho then addressed sasaeng, asking them to stop such behavior if they truly cared about the group.

Entertainment companies have addressed sasaeng fans and their activities. Swing Entertainment, home of the group Wanna One, called out sasaeng fans for causing the members stress while on tour in 2018. DreamCatcher's agency, Happy Face Entertainment, addressed sasaengs who had been waiting for members at their schedules and secretly taking photos and videos of the members, telling them to stop such behavior and pointedly noting that these actions had disrespected the members' privacy.

Effects on Idols
The actions of sasaeng fans have resulted in psychological effects in some idols. Member D.O. of EXO stated in an interview that he had developed a "victim mentality" due to sasaengs, and that it had severely affected his public appearances and activities. In 2016, Heechul of Super Junior described the sense of paranoia that he had acquired due to sasaeng fans and explained the trauma that certain sasaeng fans' actions had left him. With the increased use of social media to obtain idols' information, idols must be more cautious than ever in order to prevent unwanted information from reaching their public audience, both sasaeng and other fans.