Police have ended personal protection measures for actor Yoo Hae-jin at his own side’s request, ending a week of scrutiny over whether the celebrity received special treatment.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Go Beom-seok confirmed the move on October 15 during a National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee audit of the Seoul police, in response to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Kang Myeong-gu. According to reports from Sports Seoul and Hankook Ilbo, the protection began on October 6, when Seongbuk Police Station acted on a request from Yoo’s agency: he received a smartwatch, was registered in the 112 emergency system, and patrols around his Seongbuk home were strengthened.
The measures followed escalating safety concerns. On October 4, conservative civic groups staged rallies near Yoo’s home in Seoul’s Seongbuk district protesting the historical-distortion controversy surrounding his film ‘Assassin(s),’ and threatening posts about the actor appeared online, according to the reports.
Commissioner Go told the audit that Yoo’s side had requested the lift “two or three days ago, so we lifted it.” No direct physical harm had occurred, and no dedicated security personnel had been assigned, reports noted.
Kang challenged the commissioner over whether the protection differed from what ordinary citizens receive, comparing it with the police response to a 2023 retaliation murder in Geumcheon and a recent mother-in-law murder and wife abduction case in Songpa. Go denied the claim, saying the measures were “not special treatment because he is an actor” and were implemented after deliberation on the agency’s request. He added that police would be careful so ordinary citizens can live safely.
No reason was given for why Yoo’s side sought to end the protection.
