Celebrity treatment at Incheon Airport sparks global debate
It was supposed to be a paradise for celebrities and influencers, but it became a global drama. This refers to the idea by the authorities of the Incheon airport in South Korea. Employees wanted popular individuals to have a separate entrance to avoid mingling with fans. Ultimately, this solution was abandoned.
28 October 2024 18:39
Should influencers, celebrities, and broadly recognized public figures be treated differently than the average person? Opinions on this matter are highly divided. Some believe that with fame comes the opportunity to enjoy privileges such as dining with a golden spoon and hiring staff for protection, cleaning, driving, makeup, or hairstyling. Others maintain that celebrities are still people who have simply achieved success. Despite this, ideas often emerge worldwide to separate public figures from ordinary people, usually without public acceptance.
Are celebrities better than average people?
Celebrity culture in South Korea is one of the most developed in the world. Fans collect pictures, drawings, or items signed by an idol's name, ready to spend enormous amounts of money on them. Tickets to concerts of the most popular music groups sell out faster than hotcakes at a local bakery. For many, meeting an idol is more important than a wedding or the birth of their child. Therefore, it's no wonder South Korean influencers try to protect their privacy in various ways.
Regardless of status, travellers departing from or returning to South Korea meet at one of its airports. The largest of these is Seoul-Incheon International Airport, which is among Asia's largest airports. This is where fans sometimes manage to meet their idols. The authorities at Incheon decided to combat uncomfortable encounters. Therefore, employees came up with the idea of creating a separate entrance exclusively for celebrities.
Public opinion criticizes the airport authorities' idea
The controversial idea did not meet with public approval. As a result, the authorities of Seoul-Incheon Airport withdrew its implementation. In a press statement published on October 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM ET, media representatives wrote: "In light of diverse opinions raised during the parliamentary audit and media coverage, we will not implement the special entry procedure for high-profile individuals causing dense crowds, which was scheduled for October 28." The company added, "We will examine practices at overseas airports and gather sufficient feedback to establish alternative measures ensuring the safety of airport users and addressing issues like congestion due to crowding."
A company representative added, "The public consultation process was not adequately conducted." On October 24, 2024, the proposed solution received negative feedback from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the National Assembly, which stated that "such actions are unfair."
