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South Korean actor Lee Jong-suk (in face mask) makes his way through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport last Friday, in a scene from an Instagram video posted by a fan in the airport’s restricted area. Photo: Instagram

Security shock as disguised fans of Korean star Lee Jong-suk infiltrate Bangkok airport’s restricted area

An investigation is under way, after fans dressed in customs uniforms to sneak past security at Suvarnabhumi Airport, then thanked officials for helping them meet their idol

Extreme efforts by two Thai female fans who disguised themselves as customs officers to meet their South Korean idol have raised concerns about security procedures at Thailand’s main airport.

The two women’s misadventures were exposed when one posted photos on Instagram detailing how they got into the secure arrival zone at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport last Friday to greet South Korean soap opera star Lee Jong-suk face-to-face.

The posts explained how they changed into clothing to make them look like customs officers and thanked two officials who apparently helped them.

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South Korean actor Lee Jong-suk (in face mask) makes his way through 's Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport last Friday, in a scene from an Instagram video posted by a fan in the airport’s restricted area. Photo: Instagram

Thank you, my dear friend, Piano, for finding out Suk’s flight. Sai, for getting an official to let me into the departure gate. I was also the first person to touch Suk’s hand!
Social media post by a fan of Lee Jong-suk

The customs department said it is seeking trespassing charges against the two fans. The airport’s police chief, Colonel Viroj Tudso, said Wednesday that summonses had been issued for two customs officers accused of helping the fans enter a restricted area. A third is also under investigation, as customs authorities examine whether their personnel loaned security passes and uniforms to the women to allow them to enter the baggage claim area.

The trespassing charge carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a 100,000 baht (US$3,100) fine.

The Instagram posts showed the enthusiasm of the two fans for their idol.

“Thank you, my dear friend, Piano, for finding out Suk’s flight. Sai, for getting an official to let me into the departure gate,” the fan wrote. “I was also the first person to touch Suk’s hand!” she said.

Lee, 29, came to Bangkok to attend a fan meeting session on Saturday, where tickets to guarantee a brief high-five with the celebrity, an act known as “Hi-Touch,” cost as much as 5,500 baht (US$170). South Korean pop culture has a large following in Thailand.
Lee Jong-suk in Korean drama V.I.P. Photo: Handout
Yu-Ri and Lee Jong-Suk in “No Breathing” (2013). Photo: Handout

The matter drew wider public attention when a Twitter user, who is also a follower of the South Korean star, reposted the fan’s accounts and alerted the Twitter account of Airports of Thailand, the parent company of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

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“Thank you very much,” Airports of Thailand said in a Twitter post replying to the reposted images. “We will coordinate (with authorities) to continue the process.”

The newspaper Khao Sod’s English-language website reported Wednesday that airport Vice-President Kittipong Kittikachorn had acknowledged that “the security team did not strictly follow procedures that day, allowing outsiders to slip in.” It cited him as saying that airport authorities approved spending up to 20 million baht (US$617,000) to improve security.

“I’d like to ask all staff and related personnel to cooperate with the authentication process to keep up the security standards,” he was quoted saying. “For the safety of everyone, please comply willingly. We don’t want something like this to happen again.”

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