K-Pop group barred over lie

Band turned away at LAX said they were visiting as tourists.

The South Korean pop group that was turned away at Los Angeles International Airport this week was denied entry because the members lied about the purpose of their trip, not because they were mistaken for sex workers, as the performers have claimed, a government official said.

An official with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who asked that his name not be used because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, said the eight-member girl band lied to customs officials and said they were traveling to the U.S. as tourists, rather than for work.

Officials denied them entry when it became clear from the contents of their luggage that they were here to perform but did not have the required P1 performance visa.

The group was attempting to enter the U.S. under the visa waiver program, which allows South Korean travelers into the country for up to 90 days without a visa.

“We were doing what we do every day,” the official said. “We send people back all the time.”

The South Korean management company of the band Oh My Girl said in a statement this week that the group had been turned away because they were mistaken for “working women.” The company, WM Entertainment, said the band members “did not need a performance visa” because they were participating in a promotional event rather than holding a solo concert.

The customs official also denied that the band and accompanying staff members were “detained” for more than 15 hours at the airport. As per the agency’s policy, the group was put on the first flight back to Korea operated by the same airline it arrived on, which was 15 hours later, the official said.

The entertainment company had said in its statement that it was consulting attorneys in the United States about the group’s lengthy detention.