On the 12th, Byun Woo-seok left for a fan meeting in Hong Kong from Incheon International Airport. However, his security guards were accused of flashing lights at regular passengers, blocking certain airport gates, and checking the tickets of civilians in the duty-free area, causing an uproar online.
In response to the increasing concerns over human rights violations, the security company released a statement to Xports News on the 13th, expressing regret and offering apologies for any inconvenience caused to regular passengers. They have also announced plans to provide extensive re-education to all security personnel in order to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Despite the security company’s apology, public criticism continued to persist. This was due to the fact that the agency and the celebrity, Byun Woo-seok from Baro Entertainment, could influence the security measures. Initially, neither Byun Woo-seok nor his agency issued an apology, and a netizen even filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission regarding the excessive security measures surrounding him.
On the 15th, three days after the incident, Baro Entertainment issued an official statement expressing regret for any inconvenience caused to airport users during their artist’s departure from Incheon Airport on the 12th.
The agency apologized, stating, “Upon learning of the situation, we immediately requested the security guard to cease flashing lights at airport users. While we were not fully informed of the security conditions at the gates and during ticket checks, we deeply regret any unpleasant incidents that occurred during the security process and extend our sincerest apologies to those who were inconvenienced.”
The public’s frustration with the excessive security controversy surrounding Byun Woo-seok was heightened by previous similar incidents involving other celebrities who had either personally or through their agencies issued apologies.
Last December, a female fan attempted to take photos of BOYNEXTDOOR’s members at the airport. In the process, a security guard forcefully pushed her, causing a commotion and drawing attention from those nearby. Two days after the incident, KOZ Entertainment, the agency representing the group, released a statement apologizing to the affected individual and ensuring that they were addressing her physical and mental well-being and possessions. The agency also stated that measures have been taken to prevent the involved security personnel from being assigned to their artists in the future.
IU has taken direct action when she witnessed security guards pushing fans at the airport. During her return from the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, IU spoke up and requested, “Please refrain from using physical force to control fans.”She also showed her concern for a reporter who fell, asking, “Are you alright?”
Leave a Reply