Proposed Amendments to Airport Law to Prevent Excessive Security Following Byun Woo-seok’s Incident

On August 16th, Representative Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed an amendment to the Airport Facilities Act in Seoul’s Seongbuk-gap to ensure that bodyguards from private security companies do not impede the entry or passage of airport passengers without the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or other relevant authorities.

This proposal was prompted by a recent incident involving actor Byun Woo-seok, who received backlash for implementing strict security measures at Incheon Airport. These measures included shining flashlights in the faces of airport passengers and controlling access to the airport gates.

The security company tasked with safeguarding Byun Woo-seok stated that they had obtained prior permission from the airport security unit. However, the Incheon International Airport Corporation countered this claim and filed a complaint against the security company last month. Additionally, the International Airport Police Corps identified an employee of the security company as a suspect and conducted an investigation.

Rep. Kim argued that the Airport Facilities Act does not have provisions to penalize private security guards and others for disrupting passengers’ use of facilities at the airport. She emphasized that airports are public facilities and should not be subject to unauthorized control.

Varo Entertainment, owned by Byun Woo-seok, has addressed the claims of excessive security and takes full responsibility for any discomfort or inconvenience caused to passengers during the security process. The agency acknowledges that they were not fully aware of the situation at the time, but apologizes for any unpleasant experiences.

The source of this information can be found at Daum.