Last year the security guard and the security company that drew controversy for providing excessive protection to actor Byeon Wooseok at Incheon International Airport were each fined 1,000,000 won.
He was indicted on charges of going beyond the scope of security duties by displaying force to other passengers while protecting Byeon, who had visited Incheon Airport in July last year to attend an Asia fan meeting tour in Hong Kong.
At the time a large number of fans flocked to Incheon Airport to see Byeon, and private security guards were found to have controlled gates, shone flashlights at passengers near the lounge and even checked boarding passes.
On the 2nd, Shin Heung-ho, presiding judge of Criminal Division 6 at Incheon District Court, said "Shining a light constitutes the use of physical force and is not covered by the scope of security duties."
Judge Shin also noted, "The person being protected (Byeon Wooseok) did not use the airport discreetly to avoid people following him but publicly carried out his schedule as if holding a fan meeting." He especially criticized, "If the purpose was to prevent photographing of the person being protected (Byeon Wooseok), he could have kept the schedule secret, covered his face with a hat and mask and moved to a place without people."
Regarding this, Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University said, "This will set a good precedent for future Hallyu stars and their agencies," and noted, "They should not engage in behavior that harms ordinary citizens in public places such as airports."
He added, "As K content spreads widely around the world, it is very important that Hallyu stars observe 'basic etiquette' well in public places."
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]