SEOUL, Oct 21 — K-pop singer Soyou has spoken out a second time about her alleged experience of racial discrimination on a US airline, firmly denying claims that she was drunk during the incident.
In a lengthy Instagram post shared yesterday evening, the former Sistar member said she had only consumed “a small amount of alcohol” with her meal at the airport lounge before boarding, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.
“There were no problems or restrictions during the boarding process,” Soyou wrote.
“Because it was a flight to Korea, I assumed there would be a flight attendant who spoke Korean. When I asked for something, it seems my English was mistranslated and misinterpreted, which led to the cabin manager and a security officer approaching me.”
Soyou said the situation was later resolved when a Korean-speaking flight attendant stepped in to clarify, allowing her to board and complete the flight as planned.
But she described several “humiliating” moments that followed, including one where a cabin manager allegedly yelled at her to “get out of here right now” while she was waiting to use the restroom.
She added that a colleague travelling with her also received poor treatment when asking for a Korean menu.
“Even though the Korean-speaking flight attendant repeatedly apologised, I still feel confused and disappointed by everything that happened on board and by the cold attitude that lasted throughout the flight,” Soyou wrote.
The singer said she wasn’t seeking any form of compensation but wanted to share her story so others would not face similar experiences.
Her clarification comes a day after she first posted a photo of her airline ticket online, claiming she had been racially discriminated against. The post sparked a wave of online debate, with one anonymous account — claiming to be a passenger on the same flight — accusing her of being drunk and refusing food.
That comment has since been deleted and remains unverified.
Soyou, who debuted with Sistar in 2010 and is now active as a solo artist, said she hopes the misunderstanding serves as a reminder of the importance of respectful communication and cultural understanding.
