South Korea’s Incheon Airport scraps celebrity security lanes amid favoritism controversy

SEOUL – Incheon International Airport said Oct. 27 it was abandoning its controversial plan to provide dedicated security lanes for celebrities to avoid crowds of spectators.

This came after a backlash from legislators and members of the public who were against preferential treatment for famous people.

Officials at South Korea’s main gate said the airport would not proceed with a plan to allow celebrities to use security lanes such as those for flight crew, diplomats and passengers with disabilities, which was due to begin Oct. 28.

“We will submit other plans to ensure that overcrowding (in the security zone) and other issues such as passenger safety do not occur,” the company said in a press release.

Last week, airport operators announced that celebrities would be able to apply to use crew lanes to prevent crowds of spectators, which has led to passenger inconvenience and safety concerns in recent months.

One such incident sparked controversy when South Korean actor Byun Woo Seok used the airport and members of his security team conducted unauthorized passport checks and blocked traffic lanes for other passengers.

The airport’s new plan backfired when several members of the public and some lawmakers expressed opposition to preferential treatment for famous people and a lack of clarity about who could use the dedicated security lanes. KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK