Safety Shorts Explained (Plus, Why K-Pop Idols Wear Them)

How safety shorts protect idols during performances

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: October 15, 2025 Fact Checked

What are safety shorts?

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K-pop Idols & Safety Shorts

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Should they match the outfit?

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Are they necessary?

So, what’s the deal with safety shorts? For some, they’re nothing more than a (sometimes questionable) addition to an outfit. But for many others, they’re shorts that keep their privates from accidentally being seen when they’re wearing skirts or dresses. They’re especially popular among K-pop idols, and in this article, we explain why. Read on to learn all about safety shorts!

Safety Shorts Explained

Safety shorts are compressed shorts that are worn underneath skirts, short shorts, and dresses to protect the wearer’s private parts from accidental exposure. They're often worn by K-pop idols, who have long, highly choreographed dance sets where they often risk exposing their privates to the audience and paparazzi.

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What are safety shorts?

Safety shorts are compressed shorts worn under skirts, shorts, and dresses. They’re called safety shorts because they help the wearer feel comfortable and secure by keeping their private parts covered and safe from the eyes of others. Safety shorts come in various lengths, with some stretching past the skirt or dress, others resting just above the knee, and some aren’t visible at all. Dancers, performers, cosplayers, and cheerleaders often wear safety shorts to keep their privates covered during performances or public appearances.^{[1]
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- Safety shorts help prevent the wearer from accidentally flashing the audience, coworkers, and/or classmates, which helps them avoid embarrassment and potential harassment.
- Safety shorts are especially popular among K-pop artists, as their highly choreographed dance routines risk the exposure of the body underneath the skirt or dress
- There are many different types of safety shorts, including slip shorts, which sit about halfway down the thigh, and bloomers, which sit just below the pelvis.

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Why do K-Pop idols wear visible safety shorts?

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K-pop idols wear safety shorts to cover their privates during performances. This is to protect their privacy, as accidental exposure of their body parts can quickly lead to upskirt photos, media controversy, harassment, and lots of work for PR agents. While safety shorts can make it a bit harder to stretch and kick your legs up (leading to more work for some dancers), most K-pop idols and their management companies consider them essential.^{[2]
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- For K-pop idols, not wearing safety shorts can lead to lots of controversy, like when former Bambino member Hadam saw lots of media exposure after performing without safety shorts in 2016.
- The stylists for the K-pop band NewJeans have been praised for dressing their young stars in safety shorts and protecting them from accidental exposure.
K-pop idols also wear safety shorts for styling purposes on top of staying covered. When they wear short shorts or want to maximize or minimize their length, they may throw on some safety shorts to help with proportions and keep the thighs covered. Some idols just like the way it looks. Although some fans may find safety shorts unnecessary or unflattering, they’re worn for the idols’ safety and peace of mind.
Black safety shorts blend in with the natural shadows of the body and skirt or dress, which already makes them great for covering the idols’ privates, but they also cover the fabric color of the underwear underneath. Plus, black is a sleek and neutral color that can go with any outfit.

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Should safety shorts match the outfit?

Safety shorts don’t have to match the outfit unless you want them to. Safety shorts are meant to be concealed, so they don’t have to match the outfit. But if you are intentionally making your safety shorts visible by wearing a long pair or a shorter skirt, you can match them to the rest of your outfit for the sake of cohesion.
- For example, if you’re wearing a red top, a black miniskirt, and longer safety shorts, it’s better to wear a color that matches the red or black, like a pair of red or black safety shorts, over a pair of bright lime green ones.

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Are safety shorts necessary?

They aren’t required, but they’re important to protect you from exposure. You don’t necessarily have to wear safety shorts when you put on a dress, skirt, or short shorts, but they are very useful for keeping your private parts covered and safe from the eyes of creeps, wandering eyes, and phone cameras. There are some people in the world who may try to sneak a glance up your skirt, and safety shorts keep them from seeing your privates.
- Safety shorts are especially important for young girls and underage K-pop performers, as their private parts being exposed would be especially detrimental to their mental health and well-being.