NewJeans Fan Fined $7,500 for Breaking Into K-pop Group's Former Dormitory
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| NewJeans / Courtesy of Instagram |
A 29-year-old man has been fined 10 million won ($7,500) by a Seoul court for breaking into the ex-dorm of a famous K-pop group NewJeans and stealing personal items. The 9th Criminal Division of the Seoul Western District Court handed down the sentence to Kim, whose name was not revealed, as he acknowledged the charges of illegal entry and theft he committed at a hearing last month. The trial has made people talk more about safety issues and criminal activities that befall the Korean showbiz due to celebrity supporters' vandalic acts and security breaches.
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— Cato_o_o (@cato_o_o) July 23, 2025
July 23 2025
Man in His 20s Fined for Breaking Into Former NewJeans Dorm, Stealing Items and Filming Inside
– A man in his 20s who broke into what used to be the girl group NewJeans’ dorm and stole items has been sentenced to a fine in his first trial.
Link👇 pic.twitter.com/nWRgmGxmXD
Judge Kim Min-jeong mentioned that the crime took place at a dormitory which was no longer the celebrity's residence and so the direct reach of privacy was not at an increased rate, which explains the relatively light punishment. Additionally, the court was of the view that Kim was honest with the prosecution at the time of the arrest, expressed his apology, and he was indeed without a criminal past. In the course of the lawsuit against him, the accused man Kim seemed to be emotionally touched when he pled for leniency, saying that he wanted to contribute to society as a public officer and, at the same time, be the carer of his bedridden mother.
A so-called “sasaeng” was fined 10 million won for breaking into @NewJeans_ADOR’s former dorm and stealing items like hangers and banners. Though prosecutors sought 10 months in prison, the court handed down a fine, citing the dorm was vacant at the time and the defendant’s… pic.twitter.com/4Kylx2beh9
— KpopHerald (@Kpop_Herald) July 23, 2025
Kim was involved in two incidents in December 2024 when he unlawfully entered the vacant apartment and took various items, which also included clothes hangers and promotional placards. The property had been abandoned by NewJeans during their scandalous contract termination with ADOR, their former management company. Kim was found out and handed over to police, and that led to his arrest and being prosecuted.
This development demonstrates basic security challenges that K-pop stars confront. K-pop stars are extremely acclaimed, and their popularity mainly gives birth to rabid fans who could be obsessed. Stalking problems are one of the sharply increased trends in the entertainment industry of South Korea. Consequently, companies continuously put substantial resources into creating an adequate and legal security system to keep their artists safe. The NewJeans case points out an interesting fact: when an empty place matters, still it can be a strong potential for privacy violation. Also, it means that the Korean celebrities need to address the issue of securing their surroundings permanently after their leaving, as it is possible that their privacy protection can be compromised.