MANILA, Philippines—Fans shrieked, bodyguards and photographers scuffled, and airport operations briefly went into disarray when the popular all-girls Korean pop band 2ne1 arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport around noon Friday.
2ne1, which includes former Manila resident and TV celebrity Sandara Park, arrived in Manila for Saturday night’s concert at the Araneta Coliseum.
Tension rose at the airport when the singers’ bodyguards shoved mediamen to prevent them from getting videos and photos of the group.
A fist fight almost broke out between a radio reporter and a photographer and the Korean bodyguards.
The bodyguards, who spoke some Tagalog, also exchanged expletives with some photographers.
The entourage spilled into restricted areas but airport policemen did not do anything about it.
“E kasi pati mga police gusto din makita si Sandara (because even the policemen also wanted to get a glimpse of Sandara),” one airport employee was overheard as saying.
Several airport employees also left their posts to take photos of Sandara using their mobile phones.
Fans, including little girls, shrieked and almost broke into a stampede as the van carrying the group stopped in front of them. The group briefly opened the vehicle’s door to wave at their fans.