[Sportschosun, Joon-seok Kim] The 'identity verification controversy' that arose during IVE's Jang Won-young's departure screening at Gimpo Airport has ultimately led to improvements in the guidance system for airport users.
As the controversy surrounding Jang Won-young spread into a formal complaint, Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) has decided to strengthen guidance on identity verification procedures at 14 airports nationwide.
According to KAC on the 16th, the corporation is pushing ahead with measures to supplement related information on its website and other guidance channels so departing passengers can better understand the identity verification process.
A KAC official said, "We are reviewing ways to make the departure guidance notices more detailed, and we plan to move forward with the plan."
The latest move is tied to the controversy that began last month with a video of Jang Won-young departing from Gimpo International Airport.
At the time, Jang Won-young was informed by an airport employee about the identity verification procedure used to confirm her face as she was leaving for Shanghai, China.
When the employee asked her to lower her mask, Jang Won-young cooperated with the procedure by lifting her hat and removing her mask.
However, as the video spread online, some users claimed that Jang Won-young had not properly responded to the employee's request.
Later, there were also calls saying the airport's guidance on the identity verification procedure was not sufficiently clear.
In fact, on the 15th, a complaint was reportedly filed with the security management division of KAC's Gimpo Airport operations team, asking for clearer standards and official guidance on the identity verification procedure at the international departure area of Gimpo International Airport.
The complainant pointed out that Incheon International Airport explicitly states at the first stage of security screening, "Please temporarily remove your mask, hat, and sunglasses to confirm your identity," while the related guidance at Gimpo International Airport is relatively unclear.
The complainant also requested that the basis for the rules, their scope of application, and whether they are applied equally to all users be made public.
In response, KAC plans to more actively inform passengers of the rule under the Aviation Security Standard Operating Procedures that says, "If a person is wearing an item that covers the face, such as a hat, sunglasses, or a mask, the item must be removed before identity is verified."
The corporation also plans to make clear that identity verification is carried out under the same standards for all passengers at 14 airports nationwide.
KAC said, "We plan to actively guide and promote the passenger identity verification process through the website and various other methods in the future."
narusi@sportschosun.com
