Jang Wonyoung's Departure Policy Change Sparks Fan Concern

The controversy that arose during the departure screening process of Ive member Jang Wonyoung has led to improvements in guidance methods. The Korea Airports Corporation plans to revise its guidance methods, including its website, to strengthen the procedures for guiding passengers during departure. An official stated, "We are reviewing ways to enhance the guidance content for departure, and we plan to proceed with that."

This measure shows the corporation's commitment to improving guidance methods in relation to the identity verification controversy stemming from a video of Jang Wonyoung departing from Gimpo Airport. The corporation plans to strengthen its policy of conducting identity verification uniformly for all passengers at 14 airports nationwide, in accordance with the Aviation Security Standard Procedure, which states, "If the passenger is wearing an item that covers their face (such as a hat, sunglasses, or mask), the item shall be removed upon request before identity verification is conducted."

The controversy began on the 30th of last month, during Jang Wonyoung's departure from Gimpo International Airport to Shanghai, China. An airport official requested her to lower her mask for facial verification. Jang Wonyoung complied by lifting her hat and lowering her mask to undergo the procedure. However, criticism arose that she did not properly respond to the official's request in the video.

Subsequently, a complaint was filed with the Security Management Department of the Gimpo Airport Operations Division of the Korea Airports Corporation, requesting clarification of the identity verification procedure standards and official guidance for the international departure area of Gimpo International Airport. The complainant pointed out that the guidance at Gimpo International Airport was unclear, unlike at Incheon International Airport, and argued that the procedures passengers must actually follow should be easily accessible to everyone. They also requested explanations regarding the name of the regulation, the responsible department, the specific clause, and whether it is applied uniformly at all airports.

In response, the corporation stated, "We plan to actively guide and promote passenger identity verification procedures through various methods in the future, including posting on our website."