source: https://n.news.naver.com/article/015/0004876772?cds=news_media_pc

Amidst the recent surge in incidents involving weapons, a commotion occurred on the 6th of this month on Seoul's subway Line 9, further amplifying citizens' sense of unease. It was later determined that the disturbance was caused by fans of the K-pop group BTS who were watching the group's performance and suddenly screamed, startling other passengers and prompting them to hastily evacuate.

According to the police and fire authorities, around 8:36 PM on that day, they received over 20 reports from passengers on the express train bound for Gimpo International Airport, claiming strange smells, people running and falling, and even a few reports of suspected biochemical terrorism. In response to these reports, the train was halted at Sinnonhyeon Station to investigate, and during the evacuation, seven passengers suffered minor injuries, with cuts and bruises, while rushing to get off the train. The authorities subsequently inspected the train's interior but found no peculiarities, and six of the injured passengers were taken to the hospital before the train resumed its service. The remaining passenger was able to return home without requiring medical attention.

Initially, the reason for the passengers' agitation was not precisely understood, and rumors spread online, speculating that there was a toxic gas attack or a knife fight on the train. However, the exact sequence of events leading to the commotion was later revealed by eyewitnesses who posted their accounts online. According to these accounts, foreign fans who had attended BTS member Suga's solo concert at the KSPO Dome in Songpa-gu were on their way home when they watched a live social media broadcast by Suga. Excited by the broadcast, they collectively screamed, and this outburst was misconstrued by nearby passengers, sparking fear and panic, which led to the rapid spread of unfounded rumors of gas leaks or knife-wielding assailants. The police later clarified that the incident was a mere happening caused by foreign nationals watching BTS videos on the train and shouting in enthusiasm.

The unsettling social atmosphere caused the joy and excitement of foreign fans to be perceived as screams of terror by other citizens. In light of this situation, a police official mentioned that they would treat the recent surge of reckless threats made online as acts of terror that provoke societal anxiety and respond firmly to such actions.

The incident on the Seoul subway Line 9 serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and managing public sentiments in a rapidly connected digital era, where misinformation can exacerbate fears and trigger unnecessary panic.