DAY6, who is celebrating their 10th debut anniversary with their fan meeting ‘PIER TEN: All My Days,’ has found itself at the center of a heated controversy regarding alleged fan mistreatment at their ongoing event. What was meant to be a joyous celebration has been marred by widespread complaints from fans concerning overly strict and intrusive ID verification procedures at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul.
Numerous accounts surfaced online on July 21st, detailing frustrating experiences with the ticketing and entry policies. One particularly vocal user expressed their exasperation, stating the verification process was “stricter than airport security checks, presidential elections, or bank loan screenings.” The core of the issue revolved around the stringent requirement for the ticket holder and attendee to precisely match, with real-time physical ID verification at the venue.
Fans questioned the rationale behind such strictness, especially when tickets might be purchased as gifts by friends, family, or acquaintances. More alarmingly, some alleged that security staff were demanding and collecting sensitive personal information, including resident registration numbers and home addresses, even sharing them in group chats – an act deemed an “illegal collection of personal data.” Claims of “abuse of power” by organizers and security staff were also made, with fans reportedly denied entry even after police verified their identity.
Another fan recounted a similar distressing experience, being denied entry despite presenting their mother’s ID, a family relationship certificate, and their own ID, because the ticket was booked under their mother’s name. The shock continued as they witnessed others being forced to upload photos of their sensitive documents into group chats, highlighting a systemic issue.
While the majority of feedback was negative, some fans did report smoother entry experiences, suggesting the issue might have been localized to specific security personnel. Nevertheless, the outcry from the fanbase was undeniable, with calls for the situation to be “widely exposed” and for the agency to “ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
In response to the escalating controversy, JYP Entertainment, DAY6‘s agency, swiftly released an official statement on July 21st, addressing the grievances. They began by offering a “sincere apology to the attendees… who experienced inconvenience and distress due to the identity verification procedures.”
JYP acknowledged that they had “confirmed the excessive collection and request of personal information” which occurred during the admission process, specifically noting that these issues arose from an “external operator” to whom the process had been outsourced. They admitted that “the operator unnecessarily requested additional personal data or collected and shared attendees’ personal information for further verification of submitted documents, causing discomfort to fans.”
The agency clarified that the original intent of the ID verification was to “distinguish legitimate attendees from those engaging in illegal ticket resales, thereby protecting fans.” However, they humbly conceded, “we acknowledge that we failed to manage the situation flexibly and responsibly in this instance.”
Taking “full responsibility for this matter,” JYP Entertainment pledged to take “all necessary steps to prevent any unfair collection or invasion of personal privacy in the future.” They promised to “thoroughly review the facts with the operating company” and, crucially, announced that those “who were unable to enter the event due to the excessive ID checks” would receive “full ticket refunds.” Further details on the refund process are to be announced soon.
The statement concluded with another heartfelt apology, assuring fans that the agency would “do our utmost to ensure that the remaining fan meeting sessions can be enjoyed with peace of mind and joy.”
