SEOUL— South Korean singer Soyou said Friday that she has received a formal apology from Delta Air Lines (DL) in response to her complaint of racial discrimination on a flight from New York via Atlanta to Seoul in September 2025.
Soyou, formerly of the K-pop girl group Sistar, stated that the apology comes after she submitted a complaint to the cabin crew mid-flight, and that the airline promised to take “measures to prevent a recurrence.”
Soyou’s Racial Discrimination Flight Details
The incident reportedly occurred aboard a Delta Air Lines flight, which departed from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) en route to Incheon International Airport (ICN).
Delta operates the route using an Airbus A350-900, a long-haul widebody aircraft known for its premium international service.
According to Soyou’s account, during the over-15-hour flight, she asked a flight attendant for a Korean-staff member to check on meal service timing, feeling fatigued after her schedule in New York.
She claimed the cabin manager treated her as a “problematic passenger,” summoned security personnel, and subjected her to cold stares and exclusion throughout the flight. She said, “I thought, ‘maybe this is racial discrimination’, reported Korea Times.
The singer further said she was unable to eat during the entire flight and endured what she described as racial prejudice. In her social media post, she explained that the series of events prompted her to file a complaint with the cabin crew before landing.
The airline then responded with a formal apology email.
Rumors Surrounding the Case
Delta Air Lines responded via email to Soyou, acknowledging her complaint and offering an apology this week.
Soyou shared that she does not intend to pursue the issue publicly any further now that the apology has been issued. She said she is willing to move on to her everyday life and thanked supporters for their encouragement, reported Korea Boo.
Since I’ve already received a formal apology for the issue in question, I do not intend to discuss it any further on public platforms. That said, I will respond firmly and take legal action against groundless speculation, the spread of false information, and defamatory remarks that infringe on my personal rights.
After Soyou’s initial post, an online user claimed to have been on the same flight and alleged that Soyou appeared intoxicated during the flight, disputing her version of events and saying that no security personnel were called.
In response, Soyou denied being intoxicated, clarified that she had only consumed a light amount of alcohol prior to boarding, and stated she will take legal action against those spreading unverified rumors or defamatory remarks.
Bottom Line
Soyou has received a formal apology from Delta Air Lines following her claims of racial discrimination on a trans-Atlantic flight.
She described the ordeal as deeply distressing and said that the apology marks a step toward resolution.
The outcome of the while case may influence how airlines manage and investigate discrimination complaints in the future.
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