Wow. Tsa and customs FAIL

[sincitymix]

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/K-Pop-Group-Detained-at-LAX-After-Being-Mistaken-for-Sex-Workers-361655231.html

[seaboy4hire]

It's a gov agency. They aren't being paid to be efficient.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[Kenny]

Hating government is a form of self-loathing, since the people are the government. (Lazy, too.)

[+ azdr0710]

well, in the TSA's/ICE's defense (!), the article says there may've been a visa problem.....

[sincitymix]

well, in the TSA's/ICE's defense (!), the article says there may've been a visa problem.....

yes, but it does explain what the problem was.. they were not here to perform for profit but promotional, so a performer visa wasn't required.

[+ azdr0710]

yes, but it does explain what the problem was.. they were not here to perform for profit but promotional, so a performer visa wasn't required.

 

you're right.....but I can guess that, maybe, some ICE staffer didn't quite know that distinction.....plus it's possible that at least one of the underage girls didn't have her credentials in order.....

 

(why am I defending ICE here??!!)

[sincitymix]

(why am I defending ICE here??!!)

 

playing devils advocate

[rvwnsd]

yes, but it does explain what the problem was.. they were not here to perform for profit but promotional, so a performer visa wasn't required.

 

you're right.....but I can guess that, maybe, some ICE staffer didn't quite know that distinction.....plus it's possible that at least one of the underage girls didn't have her credentials in order.....

 

(why am I defending ICE here??!!)

 

There is also the possibility that the TSA/ICE agent was not aware they were not playing for money or that they were unable to prove that.

[+ quoththeraven]

Here's a statement from the group's management that goes into more detail. Looks like it was the use of an honorific -- possibly noona (if said by a guy) or unnie (if said by a woman) -- that led to suspicion that the group was a cover for sex trafficking.

 

http://www.whatthehallyu.com/2015/12/11/oh-my-girls-detainment-a-blessing-in-disguise/

 

From a marketing point of view, you couldn't pay for this kind of publicity, especially when it makes the group look like the victims of an uncaring bureaucracy.

 

K-pop management has been known to shade the truth. A famous example is when SM Entertainment said the father and grandparents of Super Junior's leader Leeteuk died in a car accident when in actuality his father had killed the grandparents and himself because their deteriorating health and his diminishing earnings meant he was unable to provide for them as he felt he should. (South Korea has the highest suicide rate of any country in the OECD; suicides due to the inability to support oneself or one's family are common.) The agency, which wanted to spare Leeteuk's feelings and let him mourn in peace without the scandal of murder hanging over his head, only made things worse. But this sounds like a plausible explanation to me.

[sincitymix]

Here's a statement from the group's management that goes into more detail. Looks like it was the use of an honorific -- possibly noona (if said by a guy) or unnie (if said by a woman) -- that led to suspicion that the group was a cover for sex trafficking.

 

http://www.whatthehallyu.com/2015/12/11/oh-my-girls-detainment-a-blessing-in-disguise/

 

From a marketing point of view, you couldn't pay for this kind of publicity, especially when it makes the group look like the victims of an uncaring bureaucracy.

 

K-pop management has been known to shade the truth. A famous example is when SM Entertainment said the father and grandparents of Super Junior's leader Leeteuk died in a car accident when in actuality his father had killed the grandparents and himself because their deteriorating health and his diminishing earnings meant he was unable to provide for them as he felt he should. (South Korea has the highest suicide rate of any country in the OECD; suicides due to the inability to support oneself or one's family are common.) The agency, which wanted to spare Leeteuk's feelings and let him mourn in peace without the scandal of murder hanging over his head, only made things worse. But this sounds like a plausible explanation to me.

 

So.. pretty much cultural differences. My cousins call me Brother. My male cousins like to hold my hand when we are walking down the street in korea. Best friends call themselves brother/sister.

[+ quoththeraven]

So.. pretty much cultural differences. My cousins call me Brother. My male cousins like to hold my hand when we are walking down the street in korea. Best friends call themselves brother/sister.

 

Exactly.