On October 7–9, 2025, TXT leader Soobin was swarmed by a crowd in China while traveling privately with ZEROBASEONE’s Zhang Hao and ONEUS’s Keonhee—a trip that quickly devolved into a public safety scare. Clips circulating online show the trio being mobbed at their accommodation, with phones thrust toward them and even hurled into an elevator. In one viral moment, Soobin **picked up a phone thrown into the elevator and tossed it back out—twice—**as security struggled to contain the surge.

Soobin’s statement: “They weren’t fans of anyone”

After returning to Korea, Soobin addressed MOAs on Weverse to reassure fans and draw a line: the people who mobbed them “weren’t MOAs…weren’t fans of anyone,” emphasizing he could tell the difference and asking fans not to blame themselves. His message reframed the incident as stalking and harassment, not fandom behavior. 

What actually happened (timeline)

• Oct 7, 2025 — Departure/leaks: The private vacation is exposed; the trio is spotted departing for China. 

• Oct 8–9 — Mob scenes: Upon arrival and later at their lodging, they are surrounded and jostled; multiple reports describe phones thrown toward the idols. 

• Oct 9–10 — Online uproar: Footage spreads; reactions split between praising Soobin’s boundary-setting and debating his phone-toss response under duress. 

• Oct 10 — Weverse clarification: Soobin posts that the mobbers were not real fans, easing MOA guilt and urging perspective. 

Why his words matter

K-pop stars often avoid directly labeling bad actors. By saying they were “not fans of anyone,” Soobin:

• Protects genuine MOAs from collective shame.

• Names stalking as anti-fan behavior rather than passionate support.

• Sets a precedent for idols to claim space and defend personal safety without being framed as “rude.” 

Safety, consent, and the idol economy

This incident highlights a structural issue: flight and hotel data leaks plus inadequate on-site security create flashpoints where idols are accessible but unprotected. When personal travel is compromised, parasocial incentives (owning “exclusive” footage, clout from proximity) can override consent—a pattern K-pop has struggled to curb for a decade. The China episode shows how quickly a “fan meet-cute” fantasy can become a safety hazard. 

Reception: applause, discomfort, and a necessary debate

• Applause: Many praised Soobin as an “icon” for prioritizing safety and pushing back. 

• Discomfort/debate: Others questioned the optics of throwing a phone, even in a hostile scenario—proof that idols are scrutinized for self-protection in ways ordinary people aren’t. 

• Media framing: Coverage largely corroborated the mob scene and elevator phone moment, while acknowledging the trip was private.

What organizers and agencies should do next

1. Zero-tolerance protocols for doxxing and stalking—ban lists across events.

2. Contingency security for “private” travel if leaks occur (off-site check-in, decoy routing).

3. Venue cooperation (hotels, airports) with escalation triggers when crowds impede movement.

4. Clear fan codes: filming ≠ physical encroachment; no object throwing—ever.

5. Transparent comms: rapid statements that validate idol safety and redirect fandom norms toward respect.

Bottom line

Soobin’s message separates real fandom from harassment. The China incident wasn’t “idol–fan interaction gone wrong”; it was a boundary violation, and his “not fans of anyone” stance gives the industry—and fans—a clearer vocabulary to call it what it is.