Former SISTAR member Soyou has found herself at the center of heated debate after alleging she was subjected to racial discrimination on a U.S.-Korea flight — but new witness claims are challenging her account.
On October 19, Soyou shared her experience on social media, writing that she boarded a flight from Atlanta to Seoul after completing her schedule in New York.
“I was exhausted and only asked for a Korean crew member to check the meal service schedule,” she explained. “But the purser immediately judged my attitude, treated me like a problem passenger, and even called security.”
Soyou said she felt humiliated by the crew’s cold attitude, adding that she had to say, “If I’m the problem, I’ll get off the plane.”
“During the 15-hour flight, I couldn’t eat anything. The experience left me deeply hurt — I wondered if it was racial prejudice,” she wrote. “No one should be doubted or humiliated because of their race.”
Soyou also revealed the airline was a U.S.-based carrier (identified as Airline D) and uploaded an image of her flight ticket to support her statement.
Following her post, a supposed fellow passenger came forward on an online forum claiming to have been on the same flight as Soyou — but their description of events differed sharply.
“I was on the same plane. Soyou looked drunk and said she was too tired to eat. I also heard staff telling her that boarding while intoxicated was not allowed,” the user wrote. “It’s wrong to cry racism in such a situation. As a Korean and a fan, I felt embarrassed.”
When asked by others for details, the passenger clarified: “It was a night flight, so I didn’t notice at first, but then it got noisy, and I realized it was Soyou. She said herself that she was drunk and couldn’t read the menu, which is why she asked for a Korean crew member. There was no security involved.”
While the credibility of the post has not been officially verified, it has quickly gone viral, fueling intense debate online.
The conflicting narratives have divided public opinion across social media and online forums. Some netizens defended Soyou, saying her feelings of discrimination should be respected regardless of intent, while others urged caution before labeling the incident as racism.
- If they didn’t have a Korean attendant, they could’ve just said so. Why make such a big fuss?
- You just shouldn’t take any North American airlines LOL. A lot of people still use Air Canada, United, American, and Delta for transfers because they’re cheap, but seriously, their service is garbage. Even when I think Korean airlines are overly polite, those ones make you completely fed up.
- A fellow passenger shared the full story. I won’t repeat what they said, but they were embarrassed as a Korean. I get things happen, but for you to turn it into an Instagram Story? There are articles about this now, so… You’re going to be in a bit of a pickle for a while, I assume.
- You used the phrase ‘racial discrimination’ to describe the issue, but don’t you think that maybe you were the one being rude? Can’t you admit that possibility?
- If you specifically asked for a Korean flight attendant rather than just one who could speak Korean, then you were the one being racially discriminatory first. Get a grip.
As of now, Soyou and the airline have not issued further statements regarding the witness claims.
Soyou, a former member of the girl group SISTAR, debuted in 2010 and gained fame for hit songs like Touch My Body, Alone, and Shake It. After the group’s disbandment in 2017, she pursued a successful solo career known for her vocal strength and honest personality.
Her latest controversy marks a rare public challenge for the singer, who is typically praised for her grounded and relatable image.
Sources: Star News,Nate
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