Generally fans, we only “experience” the idols when we watch variety shows, music videos, twitter accounts (hompy me2day etc) and whilst reading articles. The fortunate others who do get to experience them live would have gone to their concerts, recordings, fan events and press conferences. This is the source of those epic and cute fan cams and fan photos. Also by watching this we see their adorable or charismatic personality. However other experiences may leave a lot of fans let down, feeling disappointed and this is particularly due to their high expectations.

For example: Idol’s departures and arrivals at airports and hotels. Only dedicated superhuman fans would know their whereabouts, when they’re flying in and their schedules. I don’t know about you but if I was a fan, i’d bolt to the airport straight away, with a massive sign and the hope of an autograph or photo with my favourite idol however the thing is a gazillion fan girls and boys are probably thinking the same thing.

I don’t even think I need to explain what happens, we have all seen airport fan cams where the crowd cheers and the idols walk out with a disguise that stands out ordinarily or in airport fashion with their managers and smile politely, wave, say thank you or either just completely ignore what’s going on and walk straight into their van. The fans basically get a minute glimpse of their idol.

So why do the idols act like this? Why are we left feeling disappointed?

Kpoprealitycheck:

The idols who’ve just arrived at the airport are probably not feeling 100% and not looking 100% either. Everyone feels excited about a flight but there’s also the vomit, dizziness, headaches, travel sickness and the ass numbing sitting for up to 5+ hours straight. Not to mention plane food, even though their idols i’m pretty sure all plane food tastes like crap in my opinion. The idols most likely feel tired, fatigued but they know they have an audience and paparazzi waiting for them therefore they have to look decent and neat. They have got jet lag and the thing that most likely want to do is sleep! The airport checks and lines may get long and tiring.

Idols have different emotions aswell. They are not going to act the same way they did in “We Got Married” at the airport. They generally try to act fiercer than their usual cute image when competing in athletics and dream team. The usual image we see them in variety is the not the same in real life, that’s why we feel disappointed in the context of airport experiences as their personalities are completely contrastingly cold and unfriendly. 

Fans. Fans are generally what puts the food on their table if you look at it but there are some serious crazy fans. They may endanger themselves, other fans and the idols themselves.

For example, how would you react in this situation? SNSD arrived in Vietnam and unfortunately the formula of: crazy fans+idols+lack of security guards+hyperness= scary situation

These experiences is where alot of hate, anti’s and negativity stem from and is taken out on the artists which is why this issue has to be addressed. 

kpopselfrespect: Don’t feel too disappointed, they’re celebrities and this is simply their workplace. That’s why fan events and concerts we’re invented, in these experiences the idols are there to impress you! You can always join official fan clubs who send bulk messages and presents to idols/members and get photo replies from idols if you’re craving contact! 

You can still go to airports and see them if you want, but this is the reality. However there are more modest fans who can simply die from happiness from seeing their idol in real life and if you’re one of them then go for it! 

Other:

There has been plenty of pleasant experiences with interaction between idols and fans, this is simply overlooked by the general stereotype of idols being conceited at airports.

This is a super cute video of Super Junior’s EunHyuk in France signing his autograph and even asking them for directions :D