K-Pop Star Kim Jae-joong Opens Up About Shocking Sasaeng Fan Experiences

K-pop icon Kim Jae-joong stunned audiences during a recent appearance on the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) variety show Shoes Off, Twice-Divorced Men by detailing harrowing experiences with obsessive fans, also known as ‘sasaeng’.

Joined by science YouTuber Orbit and spiritualist Ham Soo-hyun, Kim shared his stories with host Lee Sang-min on the episode that aired on May 29. When Lee asked about his history with sasaeng fans, Kim didn’t hold back.

“They used to break into my home at night,” Kim confessed. “Even when I moved to higher-floor apartments to avoid them, they’d rent the same level across from me. I never saw the view — I always had to keep my curtains shut.”

The trauma escalated when Kim moved to a semi-basement apartment hoping for privacy. Fans climbed over walls to trespass, and in another instance, he received photo messages of his own home while he was away — clear evidence that someone had infiltrated his living space.

One of the most chilling moments involved a woman with long black hair watching Kim as he lay in bed. “I thought it was sleep paralysis,” he recalled, “until I felt something touch my lips.” It was only after another group member saw her and screamed that the situation was reported.

Shockingly, the intruder reportedly faced no serious legal repercussions.

Kim also described how these fans would memorize his car and follow him in taxis. To evade them, he once owned up to seven or eight different vehicles. “They even intentionally collided with my car just to see me,” he added.

One terrifying incident left his vehicle overturned after a sasaeng taxi collided with his car during a high-speed pursuit. “There was smoke coming out of the car as I crawled out,” Kim said. “As I ran from the scene, terrified it might explode, the sasaeng fan stood there smiling — taking photos of me.”

Kim’s courageous vulnerability not only raised awareness about the dark side of fandom culture, but also sparked an urgent conversation about celebrity safety and mental health.