Actor Byeon Woo-seok (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bustling airport lounge, a masked celebrity enters, flanked by bodyguards. Suddenly, one guard turns and shines a bright flashlight at nearby passengers, ostensibly to prevent them from taking photos.
This scene, captured on video and widely shared online, has ignited a fierce debate in South Korea about the boundaries of celebrity protection and public rights.
The incident, involving actor Byeon Woo-seok at Incheon International Airport on July 12, is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding what many view as excessive security measures for K-pop stars and actors.
Byun was en route to Hong Kong for an Asian fan meeting tour when his security detail’s actions drew criticism.
Witnesses reported that Byeon’s security team not only used flashlights to deter photography but also checked other passengers’ boarding passes and blocked access to airport gates.
The outcry was swift, with many questioning whether celebrities deserve such preferential treatment at the expense of ordinary travelers.
“Are celebrities government officials now?” one online commenter asked, while another criticized the security company’s overreach, stating, “They’re not even law enforcement, yet they act like they have authority over everyone.”
The controversy escalated to the point where a complaint was filed with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.
Witnesses reported that Byeon’s security team not only used flashlights to deter photography but also checked other passengers’ boarding passes and blocked access to airport gates. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Baro Entertainment, Byeon’s agency, issued an apology on July 15, acknowledging “moral responsibility for the unfortunate incidents that occurred during the security detail’s operations.” However, public discontent continues to simmer.
This is not an isolated incident in the world of K-pop and Korean entertainment. The industry, known for its passionate and sizeable fan bases, has seen similar controversies emerge periodically.
Last December, the group BoyNextDoor faced backlash when one of their security guards roughly pushed a fan who was taking photos at Qingdao Airport in China. KOZ Entertainment, the group’s agency, eventually issued a formal apology.
In a more serious incident in February 2023, a bodyguard for the group NCT Dream allegedly pushed a female fan in her 30s against a wall near the arrival gate at Incheon International Airport, resulting in rib fractures requiring five weeks of treatment.
The guard was subsequently referred to prosecutors on charges of negligent injury.
Actor Byeon Woo-seok (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
These incidents have prompted discussions about the need for better training and guidelines for private security teams working with celebrities.
Kim Sung-soo, a pop culture critic, observed, “While stars do need protection, they also have an obligation to interact with fans to some extent in certain places. It seems these recent controversial situations keep occurring because security companies don’t properly understand the relationship between stars and their fandoms.”
Kim emphasized the need for “consensus and training on the protocols that private security teams should follow when guarding stars.”
As the debate continues, some venues are taking proactive steps. The Dongja Art Hall in Seoul, a frequent host of K-pop fan signing events, recently posted a notice prohibiting excessive security measures.
The notice pointedly stated, “Security is not about power. They are not the police, nor are they ‘controllers with armbands.’”
The venue’s management further clarified, “Security should be unobtrusive while protecting the client (entertainer, singer, broadcaster, etc.).
They should not overtly control, restrain, subdue, oppress, pressure, threaten, or direct audiences or cultural consumers as if they were potential perpetrators.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
