Singer Soyou has alleged that she faced racial discrimination from a U.S.-based airline crew during her October 17 flight from Atlanta to Korea.
She shared her boarding pass on social media, saying she went over 15 hours without eating and endured cold stares and dismissive behavior, which she described as stemming from racial bias.
Soyou requested a Korean-speaking flight attendant to confirm meal times due to limited English proficiency. According to her, the head flight attendant judged her attitude, treated her as a “problematic passenger,” and security personnel briefly got involved. Despite assistance and repeated apologies from a Korean-speaking attendant, Soyou said she felt uncomfortable and disrespected throughout the flight.
She also addressed claims that she was intoxicated, clarifying she had only consumed a small amount of alcohol in the lounge before boarding and was not drunk during the flight. Soyou emphasized that she shared her experience not for compensation or publicity but to prevent similar incidents for others.
During the flight, she recounted other humiliating moments, such as being ordered to move aside for a cart and receiving dismissive treatment from the head flight attendant. Soyou concluded by expressing hope that no one else experiences such treatment based on race, while apologizing for any inconvenience caused to fellow passengers.
