Incheon Airport to strengthen control over private security after Byun Woo Seok incident

AKP STAFF

Two months after the controversy surrounding excessive security measures for actor Byun Woo Seok, Incheon International Airport has decided to strengthen control over private security companies and develop a “detailed response manual for handling celebrity arrivals and departures.”

On September 3 KST, Representative Jeon Yong Gi of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee revealed that Incheon International Airport Corporation is planning to establish and implement a “detailed response manual for handling celebrity arrivals and departures” within this month, as part of measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents related to excessive security for celebrities.

The airport authority identified “inadequate information sharing leading to insufficient on-site response” and “insufficient control over private security companies” as the main causes of the previous incident. The report noted that while private security companies carry out security activities within the airport, they often do not share information with airport authorities, making it difficult for the airport to directly intervene, as these companies are regulated by the police.

According to the new manual, if a crowd of 300 to 500 people gathers due to a celebrity’s arrival or departure, the airport police will manage the scene and maintain order. If more than 500 people are present, the airport police will actively work to ensure passenger safety and strengthen on-site control.

Additionally, if a private security company acts inappropriately, the airport police will intervene on-site and report the incident to the airport police department. In cases of serious illegal activities, such as property damage, the airport will actively pursue legal action, including filing complaints or lawsuits.

The controversy arose in July when Byun Woo Seok departed for Hong Kong from Incheon International Airport to attend a fan meeting. Despite there being no apparent attempts to make physical contact, it was reported that his security guards shone bright flashlights at general passengers and checked their flight tickets, sparking accusations of excessive security measures.

At the time, the security company admitted in an interview that “the act of shining flashlights was a mistake,” and vowed to “provide internal training to prevent such incidents from happening again.” Byun Woo Seok’s agency, Baro Entertainment, also issued an apology, stating, “While we were not aware of the specific security measures at the gate, ticket checks, or on-site details, we feel a moral responsibility for any discomfort caused by the security process and sincerely apologize to those affected.”