Choi Si-won stops tourist from smoking in front of Gyeongbok Palace
Super Junior member Choi Si-won, left, visits Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul. Captured from YouTube
Super Junior member Choi Si-won has drawn attention for stepping in to stop a foreign tourist from smoking in front of Gyeongbok Palace, demonstrating his commitment to protecting Korea’s cultural heritage.
A video titled “A Tour of the Palace on a Rainy Day: Gyeongbok Palace” was uploaded to Choi’s YouTube channel on Tuesday.
In the video, Choi toured Gyeongbok Palace with Yang In-eok, a volunteer guide who works as a palace guardian. Choi said he had been following Yang on social media and had long admired him.
“I wanted to meet you because your love for Korean culture has been a great inspiration to me,” Choi said.
After learning about the history and significance of the palace, Choi expressed his gratitude to those who dedicate themselves to preserving the historic site.
“I believe Gyeongbok Palace exists today because there are people who devote themselves to protecting it,” he said, expressing his respect for their efforts.
Before beginning the tour, Yang was explaining the "seosu" — stone guardian animals traditionally placed around Korean palaces — near the entrance to Gyeongbok Palace when a foreign tourist nearby was seen taking out a cigarette.
Choi noticed the situation and asked, “Is it okay to smoke here?”
When Yang replied that smoking was not allowed, Choi immediately approached the tourist and said, “Excuse me,” followed by “Please,” asking the visitor to refrain from smoking.
The tourist appeared to understand and put the cigarette away. Choi then thanked the visitor, saying, “Thank you,” and the situation ended peacefully.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.