In 2017, GFriend was the topic of interest in the public due to the reports of a car accident they were in on the way to the Incheon K-Pop Concert 2017. Source Music Entertainment canceled GFriend’s event because all of the members had to be rushed to the nearest hospital. Dangerous driving accidents continue to be a concern in South Korea, especially for the Korean celebrities who often travel by car to perform their activities. One of the most unforgettable accidents in the K-Pop world was when Rise and EunB of Ladies Code died from a fatal accident in 2014.
GFriend’s Car Accident in 2017
Various possibilities have been pointed out as the cause of these accidents, ranging from tired drivers, a rush to pursue a busy schedule, driving while intoxicated, and several other unexpected factors. Although concerns about the safety of driving have been repeatedly discussed, unfortunately there is still not much happening to change the situation. There have been at least five accidents involving South Korean celebrities in 2017, one of which hit the rising girl group, GFriend. On September 9, 2017, the group GFriend was in a car accident while en-route to the Incheon 2015 K-Pop Concert near Incheon Munhak Stadium. The front of their car was broken, but all of the GFriend members themselves did not suffer serious injuries, and only experienced a mild shock. Representatives from Source Music Entertainment provided a statement related to the accidents experienced by their artists: “While G-Friend is on their way to participate in the concert, they are having a car accident while they are heading to the hospital for review, and it is decided they will not perform at ‘Incheon K-pop Concert’.” The accident was caused by negligence from the manager of GFriend himself, who was driving the car. The news issued by the hospital called the little finger didinnya didyatnya, while other personnel Sowon, Yuju, SinB, Umji, and Eunha suffered minor injuries. The accident was just ahead of GFriend’s comeback. Nevertheless, accidents do not seem to be able to stop GFRIEND from presenting a new masterpiece. They will be releasing a repackaged mini album titled Rainbow on September 13th with the title track, Summer Rain. To reduce the frequency of such incidents, agencies should be prepared and aware of the driver and the condition of the car, as well as the driver’s readiness to drive with no influence of tiredness or alcohol. The most fatal accident was the one that took the lives of Rise and EunB from Ladies Code, the news of which immediately left the public shocked and grieving. Hopefully an accident like this will not be repeated in the future!
