Super Junior member Kim Hee-chul has opened up about years of disturbing harassment by obsessive fans known as "sasaengs," revealing incidents that went far beyond typical stalking behavior. The K-pop star shared his harrowing experiences during an appearance on composer Yoon Il-sang's YouTube show "iLSang TV" in an episode titled "If you could be reborn: Super Junior vs. 100 billion-won retiree," which was released on Wednesday.
Kim described how these extreme fans would engage in dangerous car chases and physical confrontations. "I don't even call them sasaeng fans. I just say sasaeng," Kim explained during the interview. "They were really extreme. When I left in my car, they would quickly get into taxis and chase after me. So I would stop in an alley, get out and start banging on their car doors and yelling at them." The idol expressed particular anger at taxi drivers who exploited foreign teenage fans by charging them exorbitant fares to follow the group members around the city.
The harassment extended beyond car chases to include detailed surveillance of the group's personal lives. Kim revealed that taxi drivers and other adults in the industry actively facilitated this stalking behavior. "I understand that teenagers might act like that during puberty, but there were adults who encouraged it," he said. "Taxi drivers knew where TVXQ and Super Junior members lived, and even which bars and restaurants we frequented." Composer Yoon Il-sang added that the problem affects many idols, noting that sexual harassment is also common, with some stars reporting that being touched inappropriately while passing by fans had become routine.
Perhaps most shocking were Kim's revelations about organized groups breaking into the group's living spaces. "There was an organized group. When we left for scheduled events, they would sneak into our house, take photos as proof to post online, and even leave sanitary pads in the dorm," Kim disclosed. Yoon Il-sang added even more disturbing details, mentioning that he had "heard about people defecating there." These extreme violations of privacy occurred regularly when the group members were away for work commitments.
The constant harassment significantly impacted Kim's public image and mental well-being during Super Junior's early years. "Back then, fans said I had a bad personality," Kim recalled with a laugh. He described how the group's promotional bus, wrapped with their photos, would become a scene of chaos. "When I got off, people would scream and run away like a scene from a zombie movie," he said, illustrating the intense and often frightening nature of fan encounters.
Kim's revelations have sparked intense online discussions, with many fans expressing outrage over the years-long pattern of harassment and calling for stronger legal protections for K-pop idols. Critics have pointed out the irony that while Korean entertainment has become a global cultural powerhouse, some of its biggest stars continue to face extreme privacy violations in their home country. The interview has reignited debates about the need for better security measures and legal frameworks to protect entertainers from obsessive fan behavior.
