RESCENE has become unexpectedly embroiled in an airport controversy after a journalist was heard making critical remarks about the group while the members were heading to the United States for KCON LA.
The incident occurred as the members waited at the airport ahead of their departure. A reporter attempted to attract their attention by asking them to look toward the cameras, saying, “Could you look over here once?” However, with the airport bustling around them, most of the members seemingly did not hear the request. Woni was the only member who briefly looked in the reporter’s direction.
The reporter appeared dissatisfied with the response and subsequently complained about the group, particularly Woni’s facial expression.
“They’re totally ignoring me. Why is she glaring at me like that?” the journalist was heard saying.
The interaction quickly drew attention after footage from the airport spread online. One woman standing near the reporter immediately pushed back against his interpretation, insisting that Woni was not glaring at him.
The clip prompted many netizens to criticize the reporter’s behavior. Rather than deliberately refusing to acknowledge the press, the members appeared to have simply missed his request amid the noise and activity at the airport, according to fans.
Some online users also accused the journalist of unfairly portraying the female idols and turning an ordinary interaction into a negative story. “Men are always trying to create such images of women, especially making up fake rumors when women don’t act in the way they want.”
Others suggested that the reporter’s reaction could have been motivated by resentment toward the young idols. “It just seems like he’s unhappy that young girls are successful.”
Another commenter simply wrote: “Always a man.”
As the video continued circulating, the controversy expanded beyond RESCENE itself and became part of a broader discussion about how K-pop idols are treated by members of the media at airports.
Fans have largely rallied behind the members, arguing that the situation appeared to stem from a simple misunderstanding rather than deliberate disrespect. At the same time, criticism has been directed at the journalist for reacting harshly when the interaction did not unfold as he had apparently expected.
Sources: Koreaboo