Members of South Korean girl-band detained at LA Airport on suspicion of being prostitutes

Oh My Girl, a new South Korean K-pop girl band was travelling to the US for an album cover shoot when they were detained at the Los Angeles Airport on Thursday, December 10, on suspicion that they might be sex workers. According to AFP, the eight band members were held for 15 hours on Thursday before being released, after which they flew back to South Korea. Oh My Girl was formed in March this year and released its debut single in April.

Their agency WM Entertainment released a statement saying the LA immigration authorities had gone through the band’s costumes and props.

“Then, probably because of their young age, they seem to have mistaken them as sex workers,” the statement reads.

The agency said it was taking legal advice in the United States as to whether the band’s detention was lawful. There might also have been an issue with the type of visa the band members were holding, as they were also booked to perform at a gala event in Los Angeles on Saturday.