Okay, stans — this is one of those behind-the-scenes moments that makes you go, „Of course HYBE would pull out all the stops.“ Back on August 27, 2021, Japanese idol Miyawaki Sakura arrived at Incheon International Airport around 7 PM KST, and Korean outlets reported that the security detail protecting her looked a lot like the same team that usually handles BTS. Media described her protection as „ironclad.“
Photos circulating online showed a tight protective formation, and one image that surfaced identified the guards as HYBE-related bodyguards — the same outfit credited with BTS’s airport security.
HYBE’s official line to OSEN? A neat, non-confirming denial: „We are unable to confirm anything about Miyawaki Sakura’s arrival in Korea and the BTS security team.“ So while they didn’t outright say yes, the visuals and follow-up reporting fueled the rumors.
We are unable to confirm anything about Miyawaki Sakura’s arrival in Korea and the BTS security team.
— HYBE
Around the same time, Japanese outlets (via Korean reports) said Sakura had signed with HYBE, and one of her reps reportedly confirmed she would move to Korea. Fans also remember the swirl of rumors that HYBE was recruiting former IZ*ONE members Sakura and Kim Chaewon for a new girl group — a rumor that eventually materialized when Sakura debuted with LE SSERAFIM in May 2022.
- Miyawaki Sakura is a former IZ*ONE member who later debuted with LE SSERAFIM (debut: May 2022).
- BTS typically travel with a dedicated security team that handles crowd control and artist safety at airports and events.
- HYBE is the parent company behind BTS and the label that formed LE SSERAFIM (via Source Music).
So yeah — whether it was VIP treatment because HYBE was quietly moving a new signee into Korea or just extra caution, it definitely felt like a moment that showed how seriously the company protects talent during big transitions. As a fan, seeing that level of coordination is wild but also kind of reassuring.
Source: Koreaboo