Police in South Korea sent two persons to the prosecution after they were determined to be liable for providing excessive security to K-drama “Lovely Runner” star Byeon Woo-seok at Incheon International Airport last July.
The Incheon International Airport Police identified the two persons as the 40-year-old CEO of a private security company and a 40-year-old bodyguard, Korean media reported.
Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok (Instagram)
A bodyguard shines a flashlight at people as Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok is at the airport lounge on July 12 this year (Screenshots from Channel A News video on YouTube)
The police sent the complaint against the two to the prosecution on charges of violating the Security Services Industry Act, a law that governs the security business in South Korea.
The airport police determined that the two violated the Security Services Industry Act by shining a flashlight at other passengers and checking their airline tickets during security procedures at the airport.
The case stemmed from an incident at Incheon International Airport on July 12 when Byeon Woo-seok (변우석), 33, arrived to board his flight for his fan meeting in Hong Kong.
They are accused of committing acts beyond the scope of security duties such as showing off their force to other passengers while guarding Byeon Woo-seok at the airport.
As many fans gathered at Incheon International Airport to see Byeon Woo-seok, his private security guards controlled the entrance,
Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo reported then that he checked in at the Korean Air premium check-in counter at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Afterwards, the actor went to the Departure Hall 1, completed security screening and departure inspection,, and entered the duty-free area.
When Byeon Woo-seokk entered the fourth floor at the Korean Air Prestige Class Lounge, the security team blocked the escalator entrance. They blocked the entrance and began checking passengers’ passports and boarding passes.
Incheon International Airport (Jonathan Hicap)
The security company stated, “We only checked those who wanted to enter the lounge.”
A video also showed that in the airport lounge, the actor’s bodyguard shined a flashlight at passengers.
According to the Security Services Industry Act, security service providers must not infringe upon the freedom and rights of others or interfere with legitimate activities when performing security duties, according to news reports.
They must also not have security guards (bodyguards) perform other work outside of the security duties for which they have been authorized. Bodyguards must also not display force or use physical force on others, or engage in acts outside the scope of security duties.
Besides the CEO and bodyguard, the police also investigated two bodyguards but decided not to send them to the prosecution as they did not commit any illegal acts.
A police official was quoted by Korean media as saying, “We considered whether to charge the two people we sent [to the prosecution] with obstruction of business or coercion, but decided not to apply additional charges because we determined that all of their illegal acts were included in the Security Services Industry Act.”
After the controversy erupted, Byeon Woo-seok’s agency, Varo Entertainment, issued an apology.
“We deeply apologize for the damage that was caused to passengers while we were performing our security duties for actor Byeon Woo-seok at Incheon Airport on July 12,” Varo Entertainment said in a statement.
It added, “After becoming aware of the security guard’s actions of flashing his flashlight at airport passengers, we requested that he stop the action. We feel a moral responsibility for any unpleasant incidents that occur during security procedures.”
As a result, a netizen filed a complaint over the incident with the online people’s petition center in South Korea on July 14.
Byeon Woo-seok's popularity soared after starring in "Lovely Runner" together with actress Kim Hye-yoon. The drama aired in South Korea from April to May this year.