K pop group detained in US after being mistaken as prostitutes

A teenage K pop group was detained for 15 hours after US authorities mistook them for common prostitutes.

Oh My Girl (Facebook)

Oh My Girl (Facebook) Source: Facebook

The management of Korean group Oh My Girl claims the singers and their entourage were stopped on arrival at Los Angeles International Airport for questioning by officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A statement issued by the group’s management WM Entertainment said the group was scheduled to appear at an event in LA but were mistaken as sex workers.

“As young women, they were mistaken as ‘working women’ which has recently been a big issue in the US,” the statement read.
Oh My Girl
Oh My Girl (Facebook) Source: Facebook
Authorities reportedly became concerned by the large number of props and clothing the group was carrying.

A spokesman for customs refused to comment citing “privacy” as an explanation.

“Privacy Act prevents CBP from disclosing arrival/departure records of international travellers,” he said in a written statement.

The group’s management said the singers were eventually allowed to return to South Korea and said it was talking with lawyers about the situation.


Share
1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: SBS


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
K pop group detained in US after being mistaken as prostitutes | SBS News