Actor Byeon Woo Seok sparked controversy on Monday by publicly apologizing to reporters at Incheon International Airport, following an unplanned trip to an overseas fashion event.
On the afternoon of February 9, a lot of reporters and fans gathered near the departure gate at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. Byeon was getting ready to leave for Beijing, China, where he was going to attend the opening of a brand's space. The event was officially announced ahead of time through advertising channels, which drew a lot of media attention.
Byeon is one of the most popular South Korean actors of 2026. His profile is rising and he will star in the drama "Perfect Crown" with IU. Fans and photographers were both looking forward to his airport fashion, which was sponsored by a brand and planned by a promotion agency.
Koreaboo says that people were confused when Byeon showed up with his face completely covered by a mask, even though he was wearing the sponsored outfit from head to toe. His clothes, shoes, and accessories were all visible, but his face was not. This frustrated some members of the press because they had hoped to see his entire outfit.
The report said that reporters kept yelling at him to take off the mask. They also discussed the alleged earlier instructions from the promotion agency to remove his mask for the official schedule.
Byeon spoke directly to the photographers who had gathered in response to the situation. He stopped and bowed to the press before he spoke. He then said, "I will definitely come without a mask next time," while still bowing in apology.
Byeon once more acknowledged the reporters as the pedestrian signal changed and he started walking toward the terminal. Before going to the departure area, he said "I'm sorry." again. "I'm sorry."
Naver's coverage stressed that wearing a mask during a sponsored appearance is not a problem if the brand agrees. The article did say, though, that expectations are different because Byeon is currently very famous. Not only in South Korea but also globally, people closely observe his expressions and behavior.
The Naver report said that photographers had hoped to get a full picture of him for coverage, and some were disappointed because they had to go to an officially announced schedule.
Since then, people have been discussing celebrity privacy, media expectations, and the stress that famous actors face in public.
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