"I went to meet them, but no one was there": Sho Kasamatsu expresses disappointment toward Korean fans

Japanese artist Sho Kasamatsu expressed his affection for Korean fans while also candidly sharing his feelings of disappointment from his previous visit to Korea. Appearing on MBC's 'Radio Star,' he shared an anecdote that drew laughter from the audience, recounting how he had promised to meet fans at the airport to repay their support, only to be met with an unexpected situation.

"I dressed up so well..." The strange emptiness felt at the airport

Sho Kasamatsu revealed his deep affection for Korea, stating that he would make it a point to meet fans at the airport whenever they reached out to him. He recalled his visit to Korea last year for an interview, where he spent 40 minutes meticulously preparing to showcase the sophisticated "airport fashion" typical of Korean idols. However, he could not hide his bewilderment when, despite expecting a flurry of camera flashes, he stepped off the plane to find the airport completely empty.

He mentioned that the experience left such a deep impression that he even posted about the emptiness on his Instagram. His confession—that he had dressed up to wait for fans only to find only agency staff at the airport—seemed to reflect the complex emotions of a moment when it was difficult to feel his popularity in Korea. He even jokingly expressed his disappointment, saying, "It was proof that I'm not popular in Korea."

A chance encounter with IVE's An Yu-jin and the birth of 'Kasachio'

However, there was a twist. During his second visit to Korea, he encountered an unexpected person at the airport: IVE's An Yu-jin. He mentioned that she was right in front of him, expressing regret that if he had been a bit more observant, he might have enjoyed a more relaxed moment among the agency staff. This moment highlighted the unexpected fun found in unplanned coincidences.

Meanwhile, the broadcast also featured witty wordplay based on his name and pronunciation. Taking advantage of how Sho Kasamatsu's name sounds similar to the Korean phrase "Katalk haseyo" (Send a KakaoTalk message), the nickname 'Kasachio' was coined on set. He embraced the situation gracefully, showing his determination to grow closer to his Korean fans. Amidst the mix of anticipation and concern regarding his activities and popularity in Korea, he used his characteristic candidness to bridge the emotional distance with his Korean supporters.