Sports Kyunghyang has exclusively reported that the controversy surrounding IVE Jang Wonyoung's attitude during an identity check at Gimpo Airport has escalated into a formal civil complaint filed against the Korea Airports Corporation. The complaint is not focused on the idol's attitude itself, but rather demands clarification on what exact standards the airport uses to verify passengers' identities.
It was confirmed on the 15th that a civil complaint requesting clearer standards regarding identity verification procedures at Gimpo International Airport's departure terminal had been submitted to the airport's Security Management Department.
The complainant pointed out that at Incheon International Airport, passengers are specifically instructed to remove masks, hats, and sunglasses so staff can verify their identity before departure. Accordingly, they questioned whether the same standards apply across all airports operated by the Korea Airports Corporation and whether passengers can easily find the standard operating procedure regarding those requirements. The corporation is expected to respond by the 23rd.
The complaint originated from a video showing Jang Wonyoung departing from Gimpo Airport last month. On May 30, Jang Wonyoung underwent identity verification while departing for Shanghai, China, through Gimpo International Airport. When the employee asked her to lower her mask to match her face with her passport, Jang Wonyoung lifted her hat and pulled down her mask, complying with the procedure. However, some people argued that she had not responded sincerely enough to the request, leading into an 'attitude controversy.'
The complainant argued, "If passengers are required to follow such procedures, the rules should be easily accessible to everyone." They also demanded that if such rule exists, the corporation must state its official name, the department in charge, the specific clause, as well as explain whether the rule is applied equally to all passengers at Gimpo Airport and other airports under the corporation. The complaint also noted that unclear regulations can create additional workload for the staff.
Furthermore, the complainant requested confirmation whether the exact same standards are applied equally to all passengers regardless of their social status or public profile, including politicians, business leaders, and celebrities.
Under Article 15 Clause 3 of South Korea's Aviation Security Act Enforcement Decree, all airport operators must compare boarding passes with identification documents to verify the passenger's identity. If it is difficult to verify the passenger's identity from the photos alone, they may conduct additional checks through questioning. In practice, Incheon International Airport explicitly states on its informational signs at the very first step of security screening that passengers should temporarily remove masks, hats, and sunglasses for identity verification purposes.
COMMENTS:
1. [+1,722][-36] Fans keep defending her by saying that she handed over her passport with both handsㅋㅋ But that's not even the issue hereㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ If an ordinary person were wearing a hat and a mask, would they be allowed to pass? Even if your hair gets messed up, you would still be told to take off your hat and remove your mask. Is being an idol some kind of a special privilege? Since she had to lower her mask two or three times, she seemed annoyed and crossed her arms because she was sulkingㅋㅋㅋ
2. [+1,533][-27] Ordinary people are told to remove their hats, masks, and sunglasses. On the other hand, she kept her hat on and only pulled down her mask for a brief second, which is not exactly fairㅋㅋㅋㅋ
3. [+1,144][-23] Her fans made this a bigger deal than it should be by claiming that the staff was the one in the wrongㅋㅋㅋ
4. [+165][-3] Why does everyone brush this off? This isn't the first or second time she's come across as very unfriendly...
