"Only Someone Like Woo Young-woo Can Join Society?"... Controversy Over Airplane 'Passenger Boarding Refusal'

Korean Air has sparked controversy after it was reported that the airline refused boarding to a passenger with autism spectrum disorder. Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Korean Air is facing controversy after it was reported that the airline refused boarding to a passenger with autism spectrum disorder.

Mr. A, who has an adult son with autism, claimed that despite the situation being controllable, his son was not allowed to board the aircraft. On the other hand, Korean Air stated that the measure was unavoidable to ensure safety.

On the 26th, Mr. A boarded a flight from Frankfurt Airport to Incheon International Airport. He wrote on his blog, "I disclosed that my son has autism during check-in and repeatedly said 'My son has autism' in the boarding lounge."

The problem arose when his son, Mr. B, exhibited sudden behavior. Mr. A said, "The child seemed frustrated and ran outside," adding, "After I brought him back in, he did not go outside again."

He continued, "He was given prescribed medication, but it was natural that it took some time for the medicine to take effect," and "During that time, the child got up and walked around the area four times."

However, the flight attendants requested that they get off the plane. Mr. A said, "I told them he would fall asleep shortly as the medication took effect," but the flight attendants emphasized that it was the captain’s request and repeatedly asked them to disembark.

Mr. A expressed his frustration, saying, "He did not shout or make strange noises, so how can being asked to leave just because he got up several times be justified?" He added, "Do you have to be like Woo Young-woo to be allowed out in society?" and "It’s not about money, but how can we recover from the disruption of our peaceful daily life that we worked hard to maintain?" 'Woo Young-woo' is the main character of the recently popular ENA drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, who has autism spectrum disorder.

In response, Korean Air stated, "It was a necessary safety measure," explaining that the passenger went outside the jet bridge and did not comply with requests to return to his seat. They also added that the guardian was unable to control the passenger.

Furthermore, Korean Air expressed regret over the embarrassing situation experienced by the passenger and their family who had decided to travel by air with difficulty, and explained that the tickets for the passengers were fully refunded without penalty.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.