Baek Ji-young expresses discomfort over excessive fan physical contact in saunas

Singer Baek Ji-young has shared her discomfort regarding fans who pat her buttocks or hug her while she is undressed in saunas. Her recent confession follows similar revelations from Jang Yoon-jeong, who reported being touched and filmed without permission in bathhouses.

Singer Baek Ji-young has candidly shared the discomfort she experiences due to excessive physical contact from fans in saunas. While expressing gratitude for public interest and support, she confessed that actions such as patting her buttocks or hugging her closely in private, undressed spaces are burdensome. This follows previous revelations from Jang Yoon-jeong, who shocked the public by disclosing that she had been touched and even filmed without permission in bathhouses, bringing renewed attention to how celebrities' bodies and privacy are violated.

On the 7th, a video was released on Baek Ji-young's YouTube channel showing her visiting Namdaemun Market with her husband, Jung Suk-won. As the two were seen interacting naturally with citizens while touring various parts of the market, Baek Ji-young shared her thoughts on the attention from people who recognized her and greeted her warmly.

Watching the enthusiastic reaction from citizens, Jung Suk-won asked Baek Ji-young how it felt to be recognized and welcomed. Baek responded, "It's good. I don't find it uncomfortable anymore," indicating that she now accepts public interest and love positively. She explained that being the center of attention in daily life as a celebrity has become something she is accustomed to and enjoys.

However, Baek emphasized that the situation changes in spaces where the body is exposed, such as saunas. "When I want to enjoy something private, like at a sauna, it is very uncomfortable when people act too familiar," she confessed. She stated that it is particularly disconcerting when people attempt physical contact simply because they are fans.

Baek shared a specific experience, stating, "They pat my buttocks. While I am completely undressed, they hug me saying, 'I'm such a big fan.'" She added, "Then, skin touches skin. It's a bit embarrassing." Her point was that even if intended as an expression of affection, touching or pressing against someone while they are undressed can cause discomfort and feel burdensome.

This confession aligns with the bathhouse experiences previously disclosed by Jang Yoon-jeong. On her own YouTube channel, Jang mentioned the excessive physical contact from middle-aged female fans, stating, "The mothers touch me like this. It is sometimes embarrassing when that happens." She explained that fans' friendly expressions sometimes manifest as actions that are difficult for her to handle.

Jang Yoon-jeong also shared specific details of her experiences in bathhouses during broadcasts. She revealed that "the mothers especially love physical contact," recounting how they touched her body in various places while she was washing her hair. She added that she was shocked to find nail marks left on her, noting that being a famous singer made it difficult to relax in a bathhouse like an ordinary patron.

An even more serious issue was unauthorized filming. Jang Yoon-jeong confessed to having been photographed while undressed in a bathhouse in the past. "I once went to a bathhouse and had my photo taken. I was very scared at the time," she revealed, adding that she has since been unable to use public bathhouses. Unable to give up saunas, Jang explained that she eventually installed a single-person private sauna at her home. This suggests that fears regarding privacy violations, beyond mere discomfort, have altered her use of everyday spaces.

The cases of Baek Ji-young and Jang Yoon-jeong prompt a reconsideration of the boundaries that are most important in the relationship between fans and celebrities. Being in a profession that receives public love does not mean that access to an individual's body or unauthorized filming in private spaces is permitted. Especially in locations where the body is exposed, such as bathhouses and saunas, contact and filming without consent must be strictly prohibited.

Fan affection only holds positive meaning when predicated on respect and consideration. The confessions of Baek Ji-young and Jang Yoon-jeong—that they are grateful for public interest yet uncomfortable with excessive physical contact in saunas—serve as a reminder that celebrities are individuals entitled to the guarantee of privacy and bodily autonomy. Actions that cross personal boundaries under the pretext of expressing friendliness can no longer be justified in the name of "fan spirit."

Read the original (Korean)