TRENDING: ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES USING ILLEGAL LIGHTS AND SPEED 180KM+ (110MPH) TO SCHEDULES
"Speeding is necessary in order to make it to the tight schedules and this is the truth of the industry."
Every year, reports of beloved Korean celebrities getting into car accidents are reported, worrying fans, agencies and families alike. The most recent and heartbreaking car accident that comes to mind for most is Ladies’ Code’s, whose accident caused the tragic loss of EunB and RiSe.
A shocking report from Korean media portal DongA Daily posted on September 25th revealed even more shameful news regarding the illegal steps taken to get agencies’ artists to their daily schedule on time, whether it be within a city or between two or more cities.
Most recently, a road manager (named "A") was arrested by police after he installed illegal emergency sirens and lights on his vehicle when he confessed the following, "There’s nothing we can do to make all the schedules. There are times where we went to four schedules in one day going from Seoul to Busan."
"A" had been driving his appointed idol girl group between Seoul, Busan and Daegu, driving at least 848 (527 miles) kilometers that day, the distance between Seoul and Busan reaching 418 kilometers (260 miles) alone. The girl group departed at 5AM from Seoul to a performance in Busan, and later to Daegu before their itinerary brought them back to Seoul for their last schedule ending at 2AM.
The Seoul Gangnam Police Department’s Traffic Violations Bureau reports they have stumbled upon 17 road managers for 4minute, T-ARA, SISTAR, Infinite, KARA, SPEED, Boyfriend and more, working from 9 different agencies, illegally installing lights and sirens without a license on September 24th alone. The penalty for illegally installing and using the installments, which does not seem to stop these agencies and road managers from continuing, is a 3,000,000 won (~$3,000 USD) fine or up to a year of imprisonment.
DongA Daily reports that from 26 celebrity vehicles pulled over for 297 traffic violations, the fines totaled up to 16,280,000 won (~$16,000 USD). According to a road manager responsible for a girl group of average popularity, they are paid 35,000,000 won ($35,000 USD) per event, with approximately $100,000 USD made per day.
"How would these cheap traffic violations stop us."
Road managers caught continue to give explanations for the use of these illegally installed lights and sirens. "Speeding is necessary in order to make it to the tight schedule and this is the truth of the industry," said one road manager.
Another, who is responsible for driving a popular girl group around, said, "Even with honking, cars won’t move for you," reasoning that, “it is better and safer to use these lights and sirens to warn other drivers.”
"The lights are used to scare fans away when they approach the vehicle," another manager explained.
The Traffic Violations Bureau caught many celebrity vans after an auto shop owner “Kim” proudly posted his illegal installments of the sirens and lights on his blog, and upon finding the post, the Bureau immediately departed for the Incheon-hosted K-Pop concert.
With the recent crackdown by the Traffic Violations Bureau, it is with hope that the entertainment industry will change its ways.
Upon hearing the tragic news of Ladies’ Code’s accident, police have reported that Chrome Entertainment, host agency of the popular girl group Crayon Pop, has removed their illegal lights and sirens. Cube Entertainment, on the other hand, is said to use only veteran drivers with a high-ranked official from their company seated at the front.
Celebrities’ vehicles continue to rush from schedule to schedule, racing down the roads at unbelievable speeds.
In January 2011, F.Cuz's Kan was driving back to Seoul with his stylists and manager from his SBS dramaAthena filming when a car accident occurred. In April 2011, Super Junior's Kyuhyun was in a car accident while on his way to perform at his The Three Musketeer musical.
In 2012, G.NA's car was ticketed for speeding violations for going 180km (112 mph) in a 110km (70 mph) zone. On March 10th, 2012, T-ARA's car was ticketed five times in one day alone for speeding. In December 2012, Secret was involved a car accident on the highway.
Earlier this year, Dal Shabet's Subin and her manager were involved in a car accident following her schedule from MBC’s 9 to 6 in May, to which she is still recovering from today after receiving surgery for her right leg.
Actress Gong Hyojin was involved in a 3-way accident on the highway three months ago as well, resulting in a fractured arm. Driving to their SBS Inkigayo schedule, girl group BESTie was involved in a car accident on August 31st. On September 12th, 2014, GOT7's JB, along with his stylist and manager, were hit by a city bus.
There have been many, many more car accidents concerning celebrities spanning several years, and while not all of the above mentioned may have been a result of speeding, there’s no doubt that the frequency of these accidents are high.
*This is an op-ed with added links and information by Koreaboo writers.
Source: DongA Daily
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