Shining a Flashlight on Passengers and Checking Tickets... Byun Woo-seok's 'Excessive Security' Leads to Two People Being Sent to Prosecution

The head and a security guard of a private security company who caused controversy by providing excessive security for actor Byeon Woo-seok (33) at Incheon International Airport have been referred to the prosecution.

The Incheon International Airport Police Unit announced on the 22nd that they have forwarded the head of the private security company, Mr. A, and security guard Mr. B to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Security Services Act.

Mr. A and others are suspected of exceeding the scope of security duties by intimidating other passengers while providing security for Mr. Byeon at Incheon Airport last July.

At the 25th Jeonju International Film Festival red carpet event held at Moak Hall, Korean Sound Culture Hall in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, actor Byeon Woo-seok is greeting the audience. 2024.5.1
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At the time, Mr. Byeon used Incheon Airport to attend an Asia fan meeting tour held in Hong Kong, and when many fans gathered at once to see him, the private security guards controlled the gate. The police judged that Mr. A and others violated the Security Services Act by shining flashes at other passengers and checking boarding passes during the security process.

According to the Security Services Act, security service providers must not infringe on the freedom and rights of others or interfere with legitimate activities while performing security duties. They must also not assign security guards (security personnel) to tasks other than the authorized security duties. Security guards are also prohibited from intimidating others or using physical force beyond the scope of security duties.

Besides the two individuals referred to the prosecution this time, the police also booked two other security guards without detention but decided not to prosecute them, finding no illegal acts.

A police official stated, "We considered applying charges such as obstruction of business or coercion to the two individuals referred to the prosecution, but since the illegal acts are all included under the violation of the Security Services Act, we decided not to apply additional charges."