Incheon International Airport Corporation has made a new announcement about the celebrity lane plan. Although it had just decided to open the lane for stars a few days ago, Incheon Airport has withdrawn this decision. The reason is that the public has strongly opposed and criticized this, saying that this is special treatment and an unreasonable privilege for celebrities.
According to Korean site Allkpop, an official notice titled "Request to comply with the procedure for using Incheon Airport's dedicated gate for artists" was sent to entertainment companies. "With the globalization of the Korean entertainment industry, artists arriving and departing at the airport often gather crowds of fans.
The growing scale has caused congestion, causing discomfort to some other passengers. Therefore, we have established a mechanism to allow celebrities and other public figures to use the dedicated passageway at Incheon Airport. The purpose is to minimize situations of crowding and protect the safety of passengers, airport users and foreign tourists," the unit said.
Celebrities with many schedules have to use the airport to attract media and fans to follow.
The move is aimed at reducing the likelihood of large gatherings. The most publicized controversy over the issue occurred in July when actor Byeon Woo Seok left the airport surrounded by fans. At the time, his bodyguards used flashlights to shine into the faces of other passengers, controlling the entrance to the gate without permission. The incident highlighted concerns about the safety of celebrities at the airport.
In fact, Incheon Airport will not open new gates specifically for celebrities, they will share the existing gates used by flight attendants and pilots. However, if a celebrity wants to use a special entrance gate, the management company must apply in advance.
Incheon Airport's plan sparks controversy over celebrity privileges
The practice of giving special lanes to celebrities at airports and major events has not only caused public discontent but also raised many questions about fairness. Images of stars being given priority to go through separate gates, while thousands of people had to wait in line, have become the focus of many controversies on social networks.
In addition, Incheon Airport Corporation also held a meeting with representatives of major entertainment agencies on October 20, asking to avoid overprotecting artists during pick-up and drop-off to minimize inconvenience to other tourists.
