CNN
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Two teenage girls reported missing in Pakistan last week were found more than 750 miles from their home after attempting to travel to South Korea to meet K-pop superband BTS. said police in the South Asian country.
Two girls, aged 13 and 14, went missing from Kolangi in Karachi city on Saturday, said Abrais Ali Abbasi, senior police chief in the area.
During a raid, police found a diary revealing plans to travel to South Korea to meet supergroup BTS, Abbasi said in a video statement.
“From the diaries, I found that there was a mention of train schedules and that they were planning to run away with another friend … I then interviewed them,” Abasi said.
“We began to actively pursue them and learned that they were being detained by police in Lahore City, where they traveled by train.”
Abbasi said he worked with Lahore police to arrange for the girls to be returned to Karachi.
He also urged parents to “monitor their kids’ screen time” to be more aware of what their kids are watching online.
Using the colloquial term for loyal fans, cultural journalist Rabia Mehmood said, “It’s no surprise that two teenagers took this risk because ‘Stan’ Because we can do this for our idols.” “But with a more safely organized fangirl her space, young fans can engage openly and freely with each other about their favorites instead of taking such risks.”
K-pop has a huge following around the world, including in Pakistan, with fans across age groups and genders. BTS posters and albums are sold across the South Asian country, and Korean dramas are also gaining popularity.
Seven-member South Korean sensation BTS went on hiatus late last year after the oldest member began mandatory military service last month. Jin, 30, will begin his military service on Dec. 13 and is expected to last 18 months.
BTS are set to stay apart until at least 2025 as the rest of the group come of age to enter military boot camps. ing.