This K-Pop Group Got Detained At LAX Because Officials Suspected They Were Sex Workers
Dec 14, 2015 20:18
Being sexy and hot can be a double-edged sword. Especially, if you are K-pop girl band 'Oh My Girl.' The group was detained in LAX on December 9 for under suspicion that they were a group of sex workers.
They thought it was strange that we were not blood related, but said that we were ‘sisters’. And so they took extra attention to the large quantity of items and outfits we had.
And since the members are young girls, they were mistaken as ‘working women’ (prostitutes) which the U.S. has a big issue with right now.
After the misunderstanding was resolved, we were sent back to the airport immigration office, and had communication with the airport staff, and our opinion was not straightened out.
And in the previous step, our phones were seized and it was an extreme situation where we could not contact anyone outside. The company was detained for a long period of 15 hours, and we decided to go back to Korea because of the members who were tired physically and emotionally.
The band’s agency is now taking legal advice in the U.S. to determine whether or not the detention was lawful.
They were detained after a misunderstanding of the word "sister."
The girls were in the U.S. for a shoot of their upcoming album and to perform for an event.
They were held up for 15 hours while immigration authorities searched through their costumes and props.
After they were released, they flew back to South Korea. They were booked to perform at a gala in L.A. this week.
The band's agency, did their best to explain what happened:
The person in charge of customs asked Oh My Girl and the staff what relationship they had with each other, and one of the staff used the word ‘sister’ and a misunderstanding occurred.They thought it was strange that we were not blood related, but said that we were ‘sisters’. And so they took extra attention to the large quantity of items and outfits we had.
And since the members are young girls, they were mistaken as ‘working women’ (prostitutes) which the U.S. has a big issue with right now.
After the misunderstanding was resolved, we were sent back to the airport immigration office, and had communication with the airport staff, and our opinion was not straightened out.
And in the previous step, our phones were seized and it was an extreme situation where we could not contact anyone outside. The company was detained for a long period of 15 hours, and we decided to go back to Korea because of the members who were tired physically and emotionally.
The band’s agency is now taking legal advice in the U.S. to determine whether or not the detention was lawful.
Well, that's gotta be awkward.
