Last year at Incheon International Airport, a private bodyguard and a security firm who sparked controversy over excessive protection by shining a flash at ordinary citizens while claiming to protect actor Byeon Wooseok (34) were fined.
Shin Heung-ho, a single judge in Criminal Division 6 of the Incheon District Court, said on the 2nd that he sentenced a man in his 40s, identified as A, and security company B to fines of 1 million won each on charges of violating the Security Services Act.
Judge Shin said, "Shining light constitutes the exercise of physical force and does not fall within the scope of security duties," adding, "The protectee did not use the airport covertly to avoid people following him, but publicly carried out his schedule."
He went on to say, "If (the conduct at the time) was intended to block filming of the protectee, they could have kept the schedule secret, covered the face with a hat and mask, and moved to places without people," adding, "If filming occurred even after such measures, they could have taken steps such as shielding the protectee."
However, Judge Shin explained the reasons for sentencing, saying, "It appears the defendant had not engaged in the same conduct before this case and has pledged not to do so again," and "We considered, among other things, that there is no prior record of punishment for similar offenses."
A and others were indicted on charges of acting beyond the scope of security duties by displaying force to other passengers while protecting Byeon at Incheon Airport at 11:42 a.m. on Jul. 12 last year. He was found to have followed Byeon at the time and shone flash lights toward other passengers' faces. The private bodyguards also controlled the gate when people crowded to see Byeon.