What Officials say about IVE's Jang Won-young Airport ID Check

Korea Airports Corporation has issued an official response to public complaints surrounding the identity verification process that IVE member Jang Won-young went through while departing from Gimpo International Airport.

On Monday, the agency posted a notice on its website explaining that at 14 airports across South Korea, including Incheon International Airport, passengers are asked to remove hats, sunglasses, masks, and any other items that block the face before their identity is checked.

According to the agency, the procedure is based on the country's aviation security standard guidelines and applies equally to every traveler without exception. At the check-in counter, staff first give a verbal request to remove face coverings or hygiene items. If the agent on duty determines that the photo on the scanned ID does not match the passenger clearly enough, a follow-up step requires the items to be fully removed. A Korea Airports Corporation representative said the agency will continue to share its passenger ID verification guidelines with the public through its website and other channels.

The response came after complaints were filed in connection with footage of Jang Won-young going through check-in at Gimpo, which drew attention online. On the same day, TenAsia confirmed that there were no legal or procedural problems with the ID check Jang Won-young went through during her departure. A working-level official from the relevant department said the on-site process was carried out in line with the guidelines and noted that in the video, Jang Won-young pulled her mask down twice. The official added, "If the staff member can confirm that the passport photo matches the person in front of them, the passenger does not have to fully remove a hat," and said, "There can be small differences in how each individual staff member handles the check."

The complainant had earlier asked Korea Airports Corporation to clarify whether airports under its management, including Gimpo, also require passengers to remove hats and masks during ID checks, in the same way Incheon does.

The issue began with video taken on May 30, when Jang Won-young entered the international departures area at Gimpo International Airport on her way to an event in Shanghai, China. An airport staff member asked her to pull down her mask for a clearer ID check, and Jang Won-young lifted the front of her hat and pulled her mask down at the same time. Some online viewers argued that she had been less than fully cooperative, and criticism started to spread.