Dispatch’s Live Footage Fuels Backlash At Byeon Woo Seok’s Security Team Despite Apology

When actor Byeon Woo Seok‘s security team at the airport faced backlash for “over-the-top” behavior while guarding the Lovely Runner star…

…the team did not hesitate long before issuing a public apology.

Byun Woo Seok’s Team Gets Criticized For “Over-The-Top” Security

To News1, the team CEO admitted that “it was the fault of the security guard for having shone the flashlight” and that they “wished to deeply apologize for making civilians uncomfortable.”

Byun Woo Seok’s Security Team Apologizes For Over-Protection Controversy

It is true that there was no need for over-protection in that situation. We normally do not operate this way as well. We have been in the business for more than a few years now, and we are not ones to disregard interactions with fans, or make civilians uncomfortable, or cause displeasure with careless control. We will conduct thorough education internally as this matter has happened without us meaning for it to.

— CEO

The apology, however, remains not well received by the Korean public as Dispatch‘s live footage from Byeon Wook Seok’s arrival at the airport revealed that the security team also tried to block off access to the entranceway to the terminal for Byeon Woo Seok.

In the footage, Dispatch and other Korean press reporters are on standby in front of the terminal gates—as usual. The reporters then react with confusion when a man, thought to be a part of the security team, tells them that upon Byeon Woo Seok’s arrival, the gate will be blocked off and that not even the reporters will have access.

Security: When Woo Seok-ssi arrives in a bit, we’re going to block off the gate. It’ll be for 10 minutes. No one here, not even the reporters, will be allowed through. Got it?

Reporter 1: Blocked off for 10 minutes? What?

Reporter 2: Yeah. That’s what he said. None of us will be allowed through. He said when it gets blocked, we’ll have to go around.

Reporter 3: That makes no sense.

Reporter 4: Who is letting them do that?

Reporter 5: So what, we won’t be able to go in?

The footage has since fueled more frustration, despite the apologetic effort. Comments ranging from those condemning the security team to those criticizing the culture of following celebrities to the airports itself, and even those groundlessly hating on the actor, have flooded online communities discussing the incident.

• “So dramatic for what? All airport departures should be unannounced and private.”
• “He’s not even a top star. Who does he think he is, the president?”
• “Block off what gate? The entrance to the terminal? Can a privately-hired security team even do that?”
• [Deleted Comment]
• “Way over the line…”
• “I can’t wrap my head around how it would be OK for a civilian to ‘block off’ a gate to the airport terminal. Like, that would mean a terrorist could pull the same stunt.”
• “Excessive as f*ck, LOL.”
• “What is he, the president or something? Haha. So extra.”
• “Not even the biggest celebrities pull sh*t like this…”

• “The airport is public space. Non-celebrities use it, too. Acting like he owns the space is rude and inappropriate behavior. His fans need to stop defending him.”
• “How is a private security team going to block off an entire entranceway to an airport terminal like that? Yes, Byeon Woo Seok may be a celebrity, but he’s no different from the rest of the civilians there.”
• “Wow… What a superstar. LMAO.”
• “What’s wrong with them? I’ve never seen a security team like this before.”
• “Block the gate for what, LOL.”
• “HAHAHA. F*cking excessive.”
• “So extra… This is not normal, not even for the celebrities who are more popular than he is.”