Fans Continue To Cross The Line Despite Byun Woo-seok’s Ongoing Security Controversy
Even when Byun Woo-seok is criticized due to the excessive security controversy, his fans still caused a mess at the airport
Rising to stardom after completing the lead role Ryu Seon-jae in tvN’s drama “Lovely Runner”, which ended earlier in May, Byun Woo-seok has gained a lot of SNS followers and witnessed 700,000 people flocking to the ticketing website to buy tickets for his fanmeeting with 8000 seats. In addition, Byun Woo-seok is also receiving love calls from the advertising industry, proving himself as a trend.
However, controversy arose as soon as Byun Woo-seok reached his heyday. Earlier on July 12th, a video showing Byun Woo-seok’s bodyguard pointing flashlights at airport passengers during the actor’s departure for his Hong Kong fanmeeting spread in online communities, sparking controversy over excessive security.
The security company quickly apologized and promised to take measures to prevent a recurrence, however, criticism intensified as Byun Woo-seok’s bodyguards reportedly took control of the airport gate for 10 minutes to check other passengers’ tickets. Although the security company explained that they had already consulted it with the airport security team, Incheon International Airport representatives refuted it, claiming that checking passengers’ passports and tickets was not part of their negotiation. Later, Byun Woo-seok’s agency Varo Entertainment also issued an apology.
Prioritizing safety at airports where large crowds often gather is right, but it doesn’t mean they can block public facilities and inspect others’ personal information like that. As a result, one netizen even filed a complaint over the excessive security of Byun Woo-seok to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. In addition, Byun Woo-seok has begun to receive malicious comments that went beyond criticism.
Conscious of the intensifying controversy, Byun Woo-seok had his bodyguards reduced by half upon returning to Korea from Hong Kong and tried to avoid unnecessary contact with other passengers as much as possible.
Still, the airport became chaotic as soon as Byun Woo-seok appeared and many fans were more interested in their desire to see the actor closely rather than considering his safety. If they really wanted to cheer for Byun Woo-seok and care for him, fans should have stopped following his movements from the escalator to the parking lot like that. In the process, there were moments when accidents might have occurred as the bodyguards had to shout, “Be careful, you’ll get hurt”, “Please come out, it’s dangerous”, etc. In fantaken videos, Byun Woo-seok also looked nervous and he hurriedly turned his head to check whenever fans screamed. Despite the dangerous situation, some fans each stretched their hands to touch Byun Woo-seok and ask him for a heart pose.
As Byun Woo-seok’s popularity soared after “Lovely Runner, sasaenfans also increased. Many even came to the interview locations and places where the actor conducted his private schedules. Even after his agency issued a warning against unauthorized visits of Byun Woo-seok’s undisclosed schedules, sasaengfans continued to cross the line and even gathered near the hotel Byun Woo-seok stayed overseas.
In the end, Byun Woo-seok even spoke up by himself at his fanmeeting in Seoul on the 6th, saying “I personally think it is not easy to follow someone as a fan, so I’m doing everything I can to repay you guys within the safe boundaries. However, I hope no one gets hurt. Seems like some people are intentionally getting hurt. As long as that doesn’t happen, I’ll try to do my best”. Such controversies still ended up happening as many fans confuse between love as a fan and their own excessive interests.
